As many students approach adulthood they feel pressured to get a job, but having a job while going to school is not an easy task. Finding a balance between work and school is key to an enjoyable high school experience.

Senior Samrawit Yillma has also felt the pressure to get a job. “Everyone around me was getting jobs and I felt like I was being left out,” she said.

Yillma has worked at Chick-fil-A for seven months, starting in the summer. Once the school year started she quickly realized she would have to find a way to balance her schoolwork and her job. “At first it felt like way too much. I didn’t think I’d be able to juggle both of them at the same time,” she said. 

She quickly developed her own system to keep herself sane during her final year of high school. “Every day that I don’t have work I try to focus on homework. My job isn’t open on Sundays and I see that day as a reset. It’s important to find time to focus on yourself,” she said. While balancing school and a job can feel overwhelming she always makes sure to prioritize her mental health over everything. 

Having a job while being a student can be stressful, but there are some perks as well. “I’ve learned so much from my job. I feel prepared for my future in the workforce,” Yillma said. When deciding whether or not you want to take on the responsibility of a job, Yillma says to also consider the experience you will gain from it. “If you start working in high school, you’ll transition into your future career,” she said. 

The main reason high school students enter the workforce would, of course, be the money. As we grow older we begin to realize just how expensive everything is, especially those who drive. And while you may not drive or pay bills, having a steady income can be beneficial in many ways. “I’m going to college next year and looking at how much it costs can be very disquieting. I’ve started a savings account so I can give myself a head start towards paying off college loans,” Yillma said. 

We all know just how expensive college can be and having money set aside before you get there can give you that head start.  Even if you don’t plan on attending college after high school you can begin your path to your future career now. “Even though I don’t plan on working fast food as a long term career, the customer service experience I am getting right now is going to help me down the line,” Yillma said. 

Yillma plans to become a pharmacist and recognizes how the customer service skills she’s beginning to develop now will benefit her in her future career. While she has struggled with juggling school, work, and a social life, Yillma doesn’t regret getting a job and she even promotes underclassmen to consider starting their job search.