In today’s fast-paced world, the debate about whether or not minimum wage jobs should hire high school students is more relevant than ever. As the cost of living continues to increase and college tuition rates become more unaffordable, many families encourage their teenage children to play active roles in the household income. However, with this decision comes certain sacrifices, such as limited time to study, being involved in extracurriculars, and maintaining a social life. This prompts the question: are minimum wage jobs worth working in high school?
High school students work minimum wage jobs to gain financial independence from their families. Those constricted to certain obligations or those who do not live in a secure environment find it beneficial to have some financial stability. Earning a paycheck also teaches financial responsibility at a younger age: the sooner teenagers can understand and appreciate the value of money and time, the sooner they can independently manage their expenses and work on better saving habits. “Learning how to handle your finances and job demands early is a great life lesson. Also, after you graduate college and begin your career, you have references on your application, which puts you ahead of other interviewees,” shares James Vas (12).
However, working a part-time job after going to school for eight hours is extremely time-consuming and exhausting. Limited time means limited opportunities to study for exams and participate in extracurricular activities. Test scores and extracurricular activities make up a majority of the college application. A student’s academic performance and time put into extracurriculars are highly considered when applying to universities. If this is not stressful enough, lack of time restricts high school students from decompressing and doing activities that bring them joy. This can include going to the gym, hanging out with friends, sleeping, yoga, cooking, or baking. A limited social life directly correlates to negative mental health.
So, is working a minimum-wage job worth it? Is the money worth the numerous sacrifices? And are teenagers willing to make those types of decisions? “Yes, the minimum wage job is worth it. Working a job lets you have money to spend and more financial independence. This also teaches you how to manage money and the actual value of money instead of taking it for granted,” says Alexis Payan (12).
A healthy balance is needed for success. While missing out on school events for a larger paycheck is tempting, teenagers need a designated period of time to socialize and focus on their academics.
