Academy students on having a job other than school

As if our day to day at the Academy is not enough, many girls have also chosen to join the workforce over the summer and continue their responsibilities into the school year. One student, Alana Young, has chosen Publix as a workplace for her junior year. 

With many job opening opportunities available in a post-Covid America, it is no surprise that many Academy students chose to have a job over the summer. Alana Young (‘23) has been an employee at Publix since her sophomore year and chose to keep her job throughout the summer and into her junior year. This after school gig is just another item on her already full plate which includes being a member of the lacrosse team and the responsibilities of her many rigorous courses.

“I think it actually makes me more productive because I do better when I am busy. If I didn’t have a job I would just procrastinate on my homework,” said Young.

Working seniors however have an extra to-do: college applications. Katia Huddleston (‘22) has been working on her application since the beginning of the summer, which is also when she got a job at Adventure Island as a lifeguard. Even though Huddleston is over half way through her applications, it is still difficult managing the stress of a new year and keeping up with essays, questionnaires, and having a personal life.

“I have to make sure I am managing my time well. I use a lot of my free time to get ahead on homework and college,” said Huddleston.

These personal accounts have got to make you wonder, is it even worth it? According to the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, it’s not. Working long hours in high school can lead to what is societally known as “burn out”.

“New research from the University of Michigan, which tracked young adults through their 20s nationwide, suggests that long hours at a job during 12th grade can have negative effects, such as lower rates of college completion and may heighten the risk of chronic cigarette use.”

In order to avoid an overfull plate and have a bit more control over scheduling and workload, some students opt to pick self-regulated jobs such as babysitting or dog walking. These jobs allow students to set their own schedules, pay, and do not require students to feel the stresses of corporate America.

 “I tutor whenever I can. It is a good way to make money where I am able to choose when I am available to work and for how long,” said Gabriella Martinez (‘23).

Handling a job, schoolwork, and all other high school events can be stressful for anybody. While some are motivated by their workload, others may find themselves exhausted by doing too much. 

“I think having a job is important and personally beneficial, but I know that school comes first. If I ever start getting too overwhelmed, I think my job may be the first thing to go,” said Young (‘23).