The Benefits of In-Person Jobs
By Ripley Huffman and Veronica Herrold
School, homework, sports. Being a high schooler means living a busy life, but managing a job on top of everything is another responsibility.
Unlike most teens, CHS freshman Toby Kyte spends his afternoons at the boxing gym cleaning, selling memberships and restocking. Inside the ring, he processes his emotions and focuses on technique, putting thoughts of school behind him. When Kyte boxes, he can feel his true self, unafraid and powerful. Even after suffering multiple injuries, it has never changed his thoughts on boxing.
With not many saying they have experience at a boxing gym, Kyte recommends the position to other students.
“It’s good for someone who wants to work on talking to people, because you have to do a lot of communication when trying to sell memberships or other things,” Kyte said. “It’s also just a good experience to have a unique job on your resume that sets you apart from others.”
In contrast to the intensity of the boxing gym, Sparrow Market offers a steady, predictable kind of energy. Inside, works sophomore Oliver Swinko. Swinko usually works at the register, busy with helping customers or stocking food and drinks on the store shelves. Keeping this consistent routine allows Swinko to keep up with his homework, manage stress and learn from the responsibility and independence that come with the position.
Despite the extra tasks that the role involves, Swinko says he has been able to keep a healthy balance between work, school and personal time. He believes that having a job can leave a positive impact on students.
“I’m still able to do stuff that I like, and I’m still able to get homework done, so I have a good amount of time for everything,” Swinko said.
Although having a strict work schedule works well for both Kyte and Swinko, for many teenagers, it becomes a major challenge when holding a position. Fixed shifts can conflict with homework, extracurriculars and friendships. While Kyte and Swinko are able to use their time effectively, others may struggle to manage their schedules while still leaving room for flexibility. When demand from school or work increases only slightly, it can add unnecessary stress rather than stability.
While working an in-person job can get stressful at times, when schoolwork, extracurriculars and personal responsibilities build up, they still offer valuable structure and important experiences. Unlike online work, in-person jobs challenge students with important skills like communication, consistency and accountability. Even when it becomes difficult to balance these responsibilities, it teaches teenagers real-world skills and prepares them for future opportunities.
The Benefits of Online Jobs
By Della Bank and Andrea Skerlos
Just by posting videos and stories on their Instagram page, teenagers can earn money in a fun and interesting way. This is why content creation, or an online job, can go a long way in the lives of teens.
Through creating online videos, Foster Cardoza believes that people can learn useful skills. As a CHS sophomore, he works in construction; however, he believes the best jobs for teens lie within influencing.
“Content creation involves planning, designing and script writing,” Cardoza said. “You’re basically making a mini film if you actually commit yourself.”
Sophomore Lively Pasque has committed himself to content creation. During the summer, he works mowing lawns for 2 hours every week. However, during the off-season, Pasque creates videos for what he calls “Gottcha Animation.”
“I create stories, whether an intense one or an adventure,” Pasque said. “Honestly, I like to make both good and bad endings to stories”.
Content creation helps teens learn how to use social media to their advantage, a skill that we believe is incredibly useful in life. By having a space to experiment with telling a story, teens are able to gain experience in this area. It’s a helpful resume or college application builder in case they want to go into these fields. Teens who create content are earning money as well as experience.
Working in person in other jobs, teens often have less control over their working hours. With an online job, more freedom is allowed, and teens can customize their own work schedules. A job such as content creation allows for flexible working hours while still getting paid.
Although content creation may not be ideal to make a living off of, teens can use it as a fun, creative and energy-boosting job to earn money during their high school years. For example, on Instagram, creators can earn money by collaborating with brands, acquiring views and more. By collaborating with a brand, content creators can earn hundreds to thousands of dollars. It’s this fact, along with many other points, that leads us to believe that having an online job can work better than having one in person.
