Juggling school and a job can be overwhelming at first, but with time, people fall into a rhythm and are able to manage both.

The one thing most students are worried about when it comes to having an after-school job is the stress it will cause them on top of school. What causes the students the most stress is having to keep up with school work and being able to have good grades without letting them drop.

The stress of work and school can affect students’ social relationships and family life, which could eventually lead to depression or even eating disorders.

Based on experience, holding an after-school job can be challenging at first when having to balance both school and work. When I first got my job, I mostly focused on work rather than school and it was a big mistake because I started to fall behind, so it made things difficult for me. At first, some people focus more on their job than school because they think that work is more important, but both are equally important because they both help for the future.

However, an after-school job also brings more responsibilities that students are going to see. Having more responsibilities at a job teaches new life skills. Some responsibilities that come with a job, no matter what job, is maintaining a positive mindset. These workplace roles can help you build valuable skills like time management, communication and problem-solving.

“The most important responsibility with an after-school job is time management, having to be on time to work and still having time to do your school work,” junior Ceasar Flores Granados said.

According to Statista.com, around 20.3 percent of students of the age of 16-19 have a job. It is an increase from previous years, in previous years the percentage was only 19.4% of high school students were employed after school. Employment is on the rise with high school students but still nowhere near where it should be.

So what are the majority of working-age students doing with all of their free time?

Students with no after school jobs typically spend their free time taking naps at home or going out to hangout with friends because they don’t have to worry about a job.

“After school, during my free time, I like to go home and relax because school is a lot on me and it makes me really tired, and I love to crank 90’s on Fortnite,” junior Johann Ruiz-Huerta said.

Some students don’t go home after school because they have so much free time to go out with friends and do some activities.

Some students don’t bother to get jobs because they spend their time on sports and hobbies that might lead them to a bigger career.

Students also spend their time volunteering at places that will help them get their community service hours and help out their community.

There are benefits when it comes to an after-school job, like learning more skills and making your own money. Earning money helps students learn how to manage their money with saving and spending.
Although some students may say that an after-school job has no benefits because it just causes them more stress, at some point, they see a different point of view and see how it helps them.