High school is hard, not even just academically. I think it’s mainly just mentally taxing because you are so focused on not missing out on social life, but also academics, work, money, sports, and so much more. It gets overwhelming and causes students to just plain give up. They also start to experience burnout, which harms themselves and the whole school system.
As a high school senior currently a quarter done, I am already overwhelmed. But one thing that gets me the most is my work, life, and school balance. A U.S. citizen can legally join the workforce and the work-based economy once they reach the age of 16. You can work before 16 but are not legally working age and considered an economic asset until you are 16. 16-year-olds are not fully developed, and still finding their footing in a high school environment.
When work becomes an option for most teenagers, it seems like a new opportunity, and many reach for it. This is a good thing, it’s wonderful that so many teenagers want to help the economy and others, but what’s not considered is how it affects their education. This isn’t to bash working as a student, as it has helped me come out of my comfort zone and now gravitate toward new people and experiences.
The main issue, in my opinion, is where the teenager/student finds employment. Toxic workplaces exist everywhere, and it’s hard to spot the toxicity before you are already trapped in a position. The most common places teenagers find work are food service and retail. These could be places like McDonald’s, JCPenney, Walmart, etc. These are large corporations that follow certain rules but also have local management and people who only run certain stores. This is when uncertainty and safety come into play.
Teenagers should work, it’s a great introduction to the real world and how to interact with adults. But what I think everyone should keep in mind, is the people you surround yourself with. educating yourself on the workplace environment you are joining is so important, especially in the workplace, and especially for minors. I am always going to recommend a first job in retail or food service, they suck, but they provide so many life skills in problem-solving and people skills.
My first job was at Jimmy Johns, and I learned so much about the food industry, and how to interact with customers and food. My current job is at a large midwestern gas station chain. Which was extremely out of my comfort zone in the beginning, but now I am so grateful I am in this position. I now know more about how people treat others in the real world, but also how to multitask and build rapport while also making a transaction.
The issue is the illusion of choice in the workforce, especially to a teenage mind. The amount of hours someone works a week gives them an insight into how much they have to mentally prepare for and plan on working. Working a lot of hours as a teenager can be mentally draining. Another aspect is that short-staffed workplaces have a common need to pick up shifts and overload hours. Growing minds working an excess amount of hours is when burnout starts. Workplace burnout grows into academics, social life, and the future.
The solution to the hour and burnout issue is personal boundaries. It should be set in stone that a teenager should only be able to work the times they are available, and not the times they are meant to have to focus on academics and social life. I believe before a teenager joins the workforce, they should create a concrete boundary that they will work a certain amount, which doesn’t lead to cardiac pain or academic failure. But, communication with employers also plays a part, and it should be important to have that conversation in the workforce to begin with.
A perfect teenage job does not exist. However, an appropriate one does. With proper research on management and the position itself. Every teenager can find an experience where they are maybe not comfortable, but safe. Where they can learn the ins and outs of the economy. The workforce is not sunshine and rainbows, but from a 17-year-old perspective, get out there and experience the real world before you are thrown head first.
