Finding Time

At 6 a.m., the alarm rings to wake the soundly sleeping high school student. It's time to prepare for another day at school. Classes pass by and time is quickly escaping this teenaged overachiever. English… Math… Science.

Finally, the dismissal bell rings and this exhausted teen strolls over to her vehicle, not to go home and relax, though. It's time to work from 4 until 11 p.m. and by the time that hour rolls around, the only thing on her mind is the comforting bed that awaits.

According to US Department of Labor, by age 15, almost two-thirds of American teens have held some kind of job. Many researchers, including those at the National Commission on Youth believe part-time work "contributes to the transition from youth to adulthood." These researchers contend that having a part-time job teachs job skills, money and time management, and communication skills that school does not.

Yet some think it's unnecessary to work unless it is a family need. Chuck Loveless, the career and college facilitator at Frostproof Middle Senior High School, feels this way.

"Kids need to be kids. If you graduate at 18, and retire at 65, that's about 47 years of work," Loveless said. "There is so much more for students to do after school these days. They could be out getting community service hours, playing sports, and joining different clubs. However, working as a young person is a good way to get your foot in the door. "

Linda Baquero, English teacher at FMSHS, has similar beliefs. Baquero thinks that many students work because they have wants instead of needs, one reason why she thinks students should not have an after-school job.

Baquero said, "When a student has an after-school job, they aren't getting enough sleep. So they fall asleep in class, they forget to do their homework, and their grades suffer. "

Is it really worth it though to have an after-school job? When some working students were asked what they thought they were giving up for their job, many said they thought they were giving up their friends.

Junior Donald Brown said, "I give up my Saturday nights with my friends so that I can work. It's like my friends are always going out and doing something, but I can't because I have to work in order to pay for my car and phone." Brown works about 30 hours per week at the Lake Wales' Recreation Station Bar and Grill, grilling and cleaning.

Junior Caleb Lambeth thought of other teenage "luxuries" he has given up for work at the Lake Wales' Wendy's. "I give up my sleep, and because of that I can't perform my personal best at school because I'm always tired. I also can't procrastinate as much as I used to because I never know what my hours will be like," said Lambeth.

There are some tips teens can follow to have an after-school job that will help them balance their school and work loads.

"When students take after school jobs they need to be scouting for managers who will work with them with their school and their extra curricular activities. If the manager will not work with them, then it is almost impossible to maintain a good balance between school and work," said Baquero.

General Manager Jim Williams and Assistant Manager Doug Salmeron of the Lake Wales Wendy's restaurant are two managers who say they work with their employees and help them balance work and education.

Williams said, "I try to schedule my high school employees on the weekend so that they can have time to do their homework and get good grades. Some of my high school employees like to work nights during the week, but if the work at school gets to be too much, I understand if they call off work. Education is the main priority for my high school workers. They know that they can come and talk to me if they need rescheduling."

Salmeron added, "It is hard for high school employees to keep up with grades and work at the same time. I personally don't think it's a good idea for them to have jobs during the school year because it interferes with the education process. When I was 16, I had a job at a restaurant. My hours were from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. almost every night and I had to get up and go to school at 7:15. It was extremely hard on me. I used to fall asleep in class and I don't want my high school employees to go through that."