Is it Time for Work?

Aniyah McLemore
FWIS Youth Writer

With the inflation in America today, the question is often posed if teens should have jobs or not? Teens need many things day to day like food, hygiene products, clothing, transportation, technology, entertainment, and other things that may come about. I can imagine that as a parent, it can add stress to have to pay for everything 100% of the time. I also know that as a teenager it is not always conducive to have to rely on someone whenever you need to make a purchase.

How should a parent and teen decide if they should get a job? Here are some questions to ask yourself. Is your teen able to interview professionally? Being surrounded by young people majority of the time, has taught me that being able to speak professionally does not come natural. I have been placed in programs that teach me how to do things like interview, fully answer questions, speak to adults, and more. Is your teen able to speak for themselves? In a job setting, the employers are expecting to hear from the worker, and not their parents.

Transportation? If needed, will the task of getting them to and from work make things more stressful for you? I got my first job before I could drive myself. I was often scheduled to work while my parents were already at work, which would add more stress to their plate. After a year, I was able to transfer to a location closer to my home. This opened up the possibility for me to be able to walk to and from work when needed until I got my license. Can your teen mentally handle the pressure? In my family I am expected to have good grades, be present for the extra curriculars that I do, on top of having to be at work when scheduled. This has been already stressful but it helped me learn how to manage my time.

Working a part time job in high school has taught me many skills that I can take with me in life wherever I go. These include budgeting, communication skills, work ethic, responsibility, and many others. Getting a job is a great opportunity but if it is going to be a hindrance vs a blessing remember, you have your whole life ahead of you to work.