All over the United States, high school students are being introduced to the lifestyle of having a job on top of going to school. Even after students attend school for eight hours, some are required to work for their own personal reasons. Is a teen physically capable of handling this tremendous amount of responsibility?

While discussing the topic with senior Jacob Uhl, he simply explained how he handles two jobs and school on top of family and friends. “It actually helps me balance and prioritize,” Uhl said. Additionally, he began to describe how money affects his situation. After being asked about whether money played a role in whether he worked or not, he simply stated that it was not too much for him.

Additionally, Uhl discussed how money affects his life. He continued to explain that it was for his own good and that it made him feel financially comfortable. “I’m not working to provide for my family,” he stated. The fact that some kids are not working to provide for their families is significant, because that money can then go towards college or a personal spending spree.

Uhl next elaborated on the subject of why he works. “I don’t think it would have a major strain on my life if I didn’t work. Mentally it would affect me because I have to say no to something,” Uhl said. What he meant by that something was: purchasing food, clothing, and other personal luxuries.

Uhl concluded that he was not necessarily unhappy with where he is at. “Having a job adds a whole new level of stress to what I already have going on. I spend time worrying about what I have to do the next day. I am not mad, angry, or upset. I’m simply content with where I am at,” Uhl said.

Senior Brooke Kibby also has similar reasons as to why she works. During our conversation, Kibby talked about what work meant to her and why she has a job. “I work because my parents were really encouraging me to get a job because they both had one at my age,” Kibby explained.

It makes sense, if your parents had jobs when they were younger, they naturally would encourage you to take on some more responsibility on top of what you already have.The conversation then led to the why she still works and what work means to her.

“Now that I have been working, I would not want to stop because it’s so nice knowing I can rely on my own money,” Brooke said. Guilt may play a factor in why some students have jobs, however, it’s not wrong to always ask or just plainly receive money. Everyone gets through life in their own kind of way and there is nothing wrong with that.

Kibby ended the interview talking about whether having a job or not affected her. “I would say it would not tremendously affect me if I did not have a job because I am still the same person. I have the same morals either way. Working gives me a real world glimpse outside of high school when it comes to balancing multiple things.”

It’s up to us, as responsible teenagers merging into adultery, to decide what is best. “I really enjoy having a job. Especially because everyone at work is so nice and we’ve become a second family,” Kibby stated. Will work be viewed as a place of constant stress and misery for high school students, or can it be a considered as a humble abode where the possibilities of creating and maintaining healthy relationships with coworkers and customers are endless?