BY: ANDREW FARRIS

Over the course of their four years at Truman, students are encouraged to face the challenges and experiences necessary in maturing across the threshold from childhood to self-sufficiency. While these experiences might include applying for a college or getting a driver’s license, one of the most significant achievements for students may be the idea of getting hired to work. In a Zippia report on high school employment statistics, it was estimated that “30.5% of teens ages 16 to 19 [in the United States] had jobs in 2021.” While certainly not the majority, that’s still roughly six million teenagers contributing to the workforce. With this statistic in mind, what’s driving so many students to take on the challenges of working?

Kp Goshorn, a Senior at Truman who currently works at Subway, states her thoughts about the advantages of working: “The main benefits of having a job [is] having that bit of cash to spend, it’s a very freeing experience to spend your own money [rather] than your parents’ [and] friends’.” 

As a personal finance teacher at Truman, Tre Sisco’s profession almost entirely revolves around preparing students for employment. As a teenager, he also balanced the responsibility of working with academics. “I think some benefits of working while in high school is having your own money and having some experience of adulthood,” Sisco continues, “…Students can learn time management and financial management. Both of those skills are important skills to have when you graduate and prepare for the real world.” Alongside achieving financial independence, a student might also consider working as a way to support their family, or to invest in their future.

After graduation, many high school students won’t plan on immediately entering the workforce, deciding instead to pursue a post-secondary education. Getting a head start on developing a college fund by working in high school would not only be financially beneficial, but it could be a worthwhile strategy for standing out in the application process. Colleges often take into consideration the amount of extracurricular activities an applicant has participated in when weighing their resume, and, even though jobs aren’t technically a sponsored component of the school, admissions offices have a frequent tendency to evaluate an applicant’s job history on an comparable level.

As beneficial as having a job could seem, Is it realistically feasible for a full-time student? It depends on who you ask. To Truman senior Anala Brown, it was far from it: “I got home late and it was hard lifting boxes…,” Brown said. “It was almost impossible to get any schoolwork done or have any social interaction without being drained.” After working at Hy-Vee for about seven months, Brown decided to quit her job in March of 2023.

Goshorn, who’s currently balancing AP coursework and an occasional role within  Truman’s Art Club, shared a similar perspective: “It is stressful because having a job is a whole new time consuming responsibility. This makes it hard to set aside time for my social life or academic pursuits… as a highschooler, you already have a lot of responsibilities and a busy schedule, so working during the school year is a lot added to your plate.”

In contrast, while Sisco was in high school, he found more success balancing his job with academics and other activities. “I thought it was a good experience,” Sisco says, “I was able to make my own money. and it taught me to be responsible with my money at a younger age. I was able to balance academics and social life with a job. I was also a three sport athlete in high school, and I found a way to balance my schedule pretty easily.” Because no individual’s set of circumstances are exactly the same, having a job in high school might be brutally crushing for some and seemingly effortless for others. When it comes to students who are considering getting a job, “Why not?” Sisco says. “The only thing I would tell them is that they have their entire life to work and to not worry about working in high school if they do not need to. I do think it is worth it if the student is not overworking themselves.”