By Emi Moss

Staff Writer

    Balancing school, sports, and social life is already a challenge for many high school students, but more teens are adding a job to the mix. Whether for extra income, independence, or experience, working while in school presents a new set of time management challenges and benefits.

    The experience was eye-opening for sophomore Zulay Hairston. She started working at Little Richard’s in Walkertown over the summer, but once school and dance began, she realized she couldn’t manage it all.

    “I loved having the income but honestly, I can’t juggle a job with school and extracurriculars.” Hairston said. “I’m glad I got to experience working but at 15, it was too much. ”

    Other students, like sophomore EB Henderson, decide to work only during the summer. Although the pool season lasts a couple weeks into the school year, it is mainly a summer job. For a student like EB a summer job that doesn’t conflict with school was a good way to break into the workforce.

    “I love the friends I made this summer while working,” Henderson said. “It was tough to balance with school but I only had to do it for a while.”

    “I feel like more students are joining the workforce,” Alicia Tuck Thompson, the career development coordinator at RJR said. “I’ve seen more students having interest in making sure they have the necessary ID’s and processes completed when they go to apply for jobs.” 

    Most jobs for teens are in retail, fast food, or grocery stores, though paid internships are also becoming an option for students who want to explore career paths. For many, the motivation is a mix of financial need and career curiosity.

    For junior Manuela Aritza, working as a hostess and cashier at Mellow Mushroom downtown for over a year has been both a challenge and a benefit.

    “It’s really nice,” Aritza said. “They’re very low maintenance, very chill… It’s a nice environment.”

    Aritza said her mom encouraged her to get a job to learn responsibility and earn income. She’s figured out how to make it work, even with cheerleading.

    “I just told them when I started, these are the days I have cheer, so I can’t work those days,” Aritza said. “They just know and don’t schedule me.”

    Both Thompson and Aritza agree that time management is the biggest hurdle for students.

    “The most common challenge students share with me is time management, especially if they also have sports,” Thompson said.

    Aritza echoed this, noting, “Sometimes, if I’m working the day before a test, it’s very inconvenient. But since my work’s chill, I can do my homework there if I stay focused,” she said.

    RJR offers classes like Economics and Personal Finance to help prepare seniors for money management. But both Thompson and Aritza said that the real test comes with advocating for yourself — whether that means asking for flexible hours or using planners and calendars to stay organized.

    Working during high school isn’t easy, but with the right support and strategies, it can prepare students for the realities of adulthood.

    “It’s not just about doing a job,” Thompson said. “It’s about preparation — the soft skills, the communication, the teamwork. That’s what employers want to see.”