Is Balancing Work and School Worth It?

What is more important, school or a job? High school students are faced with this important question. Despite a heavy load, balancing school and work is a common endeavor. There are several reasons why teenagers may get a job.

“I got a job so I can prove to my parents that I could get a job and not have a bad work ethic, as well as my friends saying they always had fun at work with each other,” Tristan Dauphinais (12) said. 

Teenagers may work outside of school so they can save up for something in the future, like a car. Saving money is one of the biggest responsibilities that one can learn. Quite a few parents will not support their children financially because they want their kids to work for it. This will instill a tough work ethic, and students can reap the benefits of extra money. 

“I save so I know I will always have extra money if I need it and I like to save it so I can put it towards things like my truck or if I want to go out,” Conner Vital (11) said.

If families are struggling students work to support their family; their paychecks go straight to things like groceries and bills. However, while students dedicate their time to a job, they may fall behind in school work. When one constantly works after school they have little time to study or do homework. This brings up the question: can students really balance a job and school? 

“School and work isn't really balanced for me because I'm spending multiple school nights staying up till one or two a.m. doing homework and having no free time due to work on the weekend,” Paul Willis (12) said.
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Studies show that working long hours during the week has a negative effect on school performance. While teenagers want to earn money to save or support their family, they will have less time to focus on studies. Taking a step back from a job, like limiting work hours to just the weekends or the summer, will relieve stress and allow one to focus on what is most important: school. 

~Breanna Monnette- Business Manager