Success is like walking a tightrope. Balancing work and school takes focus, patience, and courage. Many students hesitate to get a job in high school because of the stress that balancing a job and school can cause. Another struggle students face is finding transportation to and from work if they don’t yet have a license or a car.
“Having a job at 14 made it hard to get to work, but I worked my way around by riding my bike, catching rides from coworkers, and my family when they weren’t busy,” said alum Micah Tanner.
Trying to get school work done before or after work seems to be the hardest thing students deal with when being employed.
“I barely get any time to do homework because by the time I get home, I need dinner, a shower, and get ready for bed; however, I always make sure I have a study block to have time to complete work,” said Tanner.
Decompressing is very important for mental health.
“The best way to settle down after a stressful day is to lie down and catch up on my phone for a few then talk with my family,” said junior Leland Velazquez.” “Hearing about other people’s days helps me not stress about my day.”
Another big challenge students face is staying organized. It is important to stay organized to help with stress, increase productivity, and improve overall mental health.
“The only way I can remember my schedule is if I have a planner to write down the days and times I work and other important things”. “I like to use the reminder app on my phone to my advantage because if I’m not looking at my planner, I always have my phone to remind me,” said Velazquez.
Getting enough sleep helps students stay focused and have enough energy for both school and work.
“I make sure I get at least eight hours of sleep every night,” said junior Kamryn Carter. “The best way I get myself energized for the day is to wash my face with cold water and eat at least one healthy thing in the morning. I walk to school, which is part of my daily exercise to keep me moving.”
Balancing high school and work shapes our futures by building responsibility and real-world skills.
