I am seventeen years old. I have been working for over a year now, which has led me to explain why I think every teenager should have a job. 

Your parents may have forced you to find a job the second you become old enough, although the idea may not sound appealing at first. 

Even if the job is often tedious, it will pay off. When I look back to before I was working I cannot remember having a good understanding of why it is important to make your own money and improve your social knowledge. 

I work at the Starboard Galley and Loretta, each in downtown Newburyport. The Starboard Galley was my first job. I began working there the summer going into my junior year. Since then I have felt I have changed as a person. I always enjoy the adrenaline of working in a restaurant on a busy Saturday night.

Each of my jobs has impacted me a lot. I can speak to others in a confident manner, and I have learned values in life that I can take with me into the future. 

 I have worked various hours at each job throughout the past years. I spoke to a few students at Pentucket Regional High School about how many hours they work and how much they make. 

Benefits 

Given different work environments, some employees get paid less than others. The majority of students say they work an average of eight to twenty-four hours a week or even more. The number of hours students work varies between summer and the school year. Each student I spoke with said they get paid minimum wage, which is fifteen dollars an hour, or they get tips. As a restaurant employee, I get paid less than fifteen dollars an hour, although I receive tips. 

If someone were to ask me why I enjoy my jobs I would say for the friends I have made. Why might I not enjoy my job? Well despite being young and still learning about fair pay rates, I often feel I am getting underpaid. I decided to ask other students why they do or do not enjoy their jobs, as well as other questions. 

Should You Feel Close To Your Co-workers?

Personally, I find it important to feel comfortable with your co-workers. I work with a variety of different age groups, even those who are much older than me. I have felt connected to and comfortable with. I have also learned from them from a mentor’s point of view. 

Working with people who have experienced high school and college has guided me to set myself up for my future and as the same concept applies to my younger co-workers, we mentor and help one another throughout our shifts.

Maisie King, a senior, works at Dairy Queen in Salisbury. She said that it is very important to feel comfortable with your co-workers. “Even if it’s superficial, it makes the job go by a lot faster.” If you are not close with your co-workers outside of work, it’s still enjoyable to see them during your shifts. 

Another senior named Carsen Ventola works at Hunter Haven Farms in Groveland. Ventola agreed, “Yes definitely the job is more enjoyable if you are comfortable with your co-workers.” Ventola also stated the job can become tedious although she enjoys working with other people her age. An anonymous student even stated their favorite part of their job is laughing with their co-workers. 

Rude Customers

King also said that her job in customer service has “changed how I approach different people.” She is implying a lower side to her job is that she has encountered rude customers.  

I agree with King, given I have had firsthand experience with rude customers and even co-workers. 

A junior at Pentucket, Hannah Bub, works at Canobie Lake Park in Salem, New Hampshire. Bub admitted that she had been called rude names in the past. Unfortunately, people are going to be rude to people who do not deserve that disrespect.

Many students agree that the sweet and encouraging people they work with are the highs of their job, and the lows are rude customers. 

Lucy Zgordnik, a junior at Pentucket, works at The Juicery in downtown Newburyport. She stated that, “Having a job has increased my social skills dramatically. Involving myself with customers, and co-workers, and being in a busy atmosphere has erased my social anxiety and taught me to become confident in a workplace.” 

In my experience, getting a sense of what rude and well-mannered customers look like in a restaurant has helped me improve my social skills and be able to speak with various people. I believe facing impolite people can improve your social skills because of the impact it has on you. 

Does Having a Job Create Responsibility and Maturity?

My co-worker and good friend Ava, a freshman at Newburyport High School, quoted: “Working at Starboard has improved my maturity because of the often complicated scheduling that I, as well as my co-workers, have had to adjust to.” 

 Each student I spoke with said strongly that their experience working has improved their social skills. I think every student should have a job to prepare themselves for the future and improve their current self. 

Conclusion

Zgordnik concludes that, “Without social skills, having a job in customer service would be impossible.” 

Without having a job or some experience in the work industry, our social skills and understanding of the value of money can become incredibly poor, as it is not sending us in the right direction.