Part-time job, school, social life, a little money in my pocket – what could go wrong?
When I first got my job working at Target, I thought it would be simple — work a few hours throughout the week, earn some money, and go on about my usual life. But I quickly realized that balancing school, work, and personal life was a demanding and unforgettable experience.
This is my story of having a part-time job while finishing up my senior year at Granite Hills High School.
Having a job while in high school is something that every high school student should experience. By earning your first paychecks, buying items on your wishlist, or learning how to manage your finances, having a job would greatly benefit anyone.
However, do not underestimate the importance of learning how to manage your time and energy efficiently.
I got hired at my local Target on Aug. 20. Since I got hired, I have changed drastically.
As a “Guest Advocate,” duties include focusing on being a cashier and other guest services. As an employee who works in the front of the store, it is my responsibility to make sure the guests enter and leave the store feeling good about their experience. I’m the first and last point of contact for guests, so I am essentially the face of my store.
When not helping guests, “Guest Advocates” are cleaning and stocking the front to make the store look presentable.
When I started, I was excited to work, waiting to get out of school just to go to work.
But then I remember seeing my first check. It was $558.01. Seeing the amount I had for myself was almost life-changing. It felt empowering to earn my own money, I did not have to rely on anyone for financial help. This sense of financial independence was addictive. It did something to me.
When I began my senior year of high school, I started strong. I was a good student like I had been most of my life. I kept up in all my classes, I had money, and I was happy. But as the semester progressed, things began to take a drastic turn.
I started to prioritize money and the luxury that came with it. When the payday came around, the money already had a destination. I would take my friends to eat, buy expensive items, and pay bills. All this came with a price. Work became my top priority so I could afford all these expenses.
School became an obstacle rather than a necessity for my future. I fought every morning to get up and go to school, questioning if it was worth going. Sitting in classes for hours seemed like a waste of time when I could be making money instead. The money got deep into my pockets and my mind because I thought, at the end of the day, school was not helping me pay my bills or contribute to my household.
The pressure to make money was relentless. Every shift I took meant more money to spend, even if it meant sacrificing sleep, missing assignments, skipping school, and skipping out on school events. I turned down spending time with family and friends or participating in school events – events that I would never experience again. Work always came first, I could not justify spending time on things that did not help me financially.
My grades suffered tremendously, falling behind in every class, not paying attention, and thinking about work. I knew what I was doing was wrong but I could not stop working, even at one point questioning if I should drop out. I was stressed out by just looking at my grades so I worked even more because when I worked, I forgot about all my problems. I became a workaholic, working the most hours possible.
But when I tried to focus on school, I found myself unable to because I was exhausted, and drained from long shifts. The moment I got home from work, I was too tired to open my laptop, let alone study for tests. Then, I decided that I had enough but it was too late. The semester was about to end and my grades were at their lowest – reality punched me in the face.
I had a mental breakdown and went into damage control – barely passing the first semester rather than passing with excellence.
When the semester ended, I told myself next semester would be different. I had time to reflect on my decisions and to learn how to manage my time effectively. I could not let work consume my life while my education suffered.
I started to set boundaries with my job. Before I was working 30 hours a week, now I work much less than that, giving me time to focus on what is really important – my education.
Mr. Marquez helped me put things into perspective.
“You have your whole life to work,” he said.
That really made me think about what I was doing. I only have one senior year of high school. I need to make the most of it.
This semester has already been so much better. I am working less, I adjusted my school schedule to allow me to be more successful, and I have made time for friends and family.
Use my cautionary tale as an example of how not to balance a part-time job, school, and social life. Understand that prioritizing education is the most important thing you can do right now.
A part-time job is only meant to enhance your life, not take away from what is really important. It took me one semester to figure this out. Hopefully, students reading this can learn from it and figure it out much faster than I did.
