Students having jobs has become a topic of controversy for parents and kids. There are many

pros to having a job as a teenager – money to spend on anything they want, a way to learn responsibility,

a way to imitate life after high school. But, for many the cons outweigh the pros – less time to spend with

friends, less alone time, more stress. Especially for students who participate in extracurricular

activities, things can be quite difficult.

Focusing on just the pros, jobs are a gateway for high school students to gain independence.

Paying for things by themselves helps with learning how to be responsible with money and can help

them in the future when it comes time for living on their own. Plus, having “fun money” that doesn’t need

to be spent on bills or groceries for the week allows for teenagers to participate in more activities with

their friends that they might have previously needed parent money to do.

On a similar note, it very much so gives teenagers a way to imagine what life without their

parents would be like. Being responsible for getting themselves to work on time, negotiating schedules

with their boss, and managing a work-life balance are all vital skills for when it comes time for having a

full-time job as an adult.

The cons, however, are not entirely untrue. It can be extremely difficult to do both school and

work, especially when you consider extracurriculars, managing relationships, and teenage hormones.

Many students find themselves spread too thin during the school year, having little to no time to relax

and unwind. This leads to a higher rate of depression and anxiety among high schoolers, which can have

detrimental effects on students' quality of life.

Another unignorable con would be teens having less time to spend with their friends. In the

teenage world, time spent with friends is extremely invaluable. It is one of the best ways for students to

unwind and have fun in the midst of the chaos of their lives. When working, however, it can be quite

difficult to coordinate time together. Each friend works different, conflicting schedules, and the one day

they all have off is a month too late. The question is, is social isolation worth the few extra bucks? For

many, that answer is no.

Despite the pros and cons, the decision is up to the students and their parents. What are their

individual priorities, and will they align with having a job? Are the sacrifices worth it, or is it too much to

ask?