Juggling Being a Student and Having a Job

Some students have the responsibility of keeping up with school along with maintaining a job.

“It’s hard having a job in high school because you have to balance your school schedule, and your work schedule,” said Julez Williams, senior.

“It’s nice having my own money, but it can get stressful on top of AP classes and sports. But, I like it because it’s another escape for me,” said Trinity Brooks, senior.

“It’s too much, having to go to school and then going to work right after,” said Jaliyah Word, senior.

Having time to finish school work at home is very important, but most working students don’t have the time to do homework after leaving their jobs.

“I do my homework at school when I have free time before the class that it’s due in,” said CartherBeth Cassell, senior.

 “By the time I get home from work, I’m too tired to do any work so I’ll do it the next day at school,” said Duchess Rodgers, senior.

Most students work 25-30 hours a week, and earn $12-$13 an hour.

The students believe that having money saved up is worth the sleep they lose by having a job, while others think that getting enough sleep is more important.

“I don’t think that having money is worth losing sleep because sleep is the most important thing for your body,” said Kenneth Evans, senior.

“Yes, it’s worth losing sleep. I like having money because I can buy the things I need,” said Hope Easom, senior.

“I like having money because I don’t have to use my parents’ money,” said Julian Miller, senior.

Working closer to home helps the students have enough time to get ready to work after school. Most of the students only work 10-20 minutes away from their homes.

“I go to work from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM, and I only live about 15 minutes away, so I have time to get home from school get dressed and then go to work,” said Kaylin Sandridge, senior.

“I live 20 minutes away from work and I go in from 4:30 PM to 10 PM,” said Cashmere Reese, senior.

An afterschool job has an effect on the students who play sports. They have had to cut down their time at work to be able to play their sport, resulting in less money in their bank accounts.

“Playing a sport affects your job because you have to tell them what days you’re off, and what days you can be there so you are still put on the schedule,” said Williams.

“When I played basketball, I wasn’t able to work as much as I wanted, so I didn’t have a lot of money,” said Rodgers.

“I wasn’t able to work at all during volleyball season, I could only work on the weekends,” said Cassell.

An after school job in high school is time consuming, but the students of Chatham High School make it work. Going to school and maintaining a job takes a lot of sacrifices.

“Don’t overwork yourself; if it becomes too much for you, ask for lesser hours or take time off,” said Brooks.

“If you can’t handle the pressures of school, working, and maintaining a social life then you shouldn’t do it. If you’re not willing to sacrifice your free time then getting a job may not be for you,” said Word.

“Focus on school first, then your job because having good grades is the most important thing,” said Miller.