While high school is a time to focus on grades and prepare for the future, many students have already taken the next step of responsibility by getting a job. Having a job in high school can be a burden, and students have to be able to balance school, work and extracurriculars. But despite the challenges, many students have decided to tackle the workplace.

“I have to schedule my work around clubs and meetings,” senior Ryan Lozano said. “When I want to do stuff with my friends I give them my schedule, and they try to work around it, but sometimes I miss out.”

Lozano works about 30 hours per week at Lifetime Athletic, which is much more than the usual amount of hours for a high school student. Other students, such as junior Scarlett Killeen, who works at Bahama Bucks, only has to manage about six hours a week but has to fit that six hours in around other demanding activities such as drill team.

“I ask only to work around two shifts a week, usually from seven to ten so it’s after practice,” Killeen said. “They’ve been great about scheduling shifts around my life.”

Even with the hardships that scheduling presents, there are several good reasons to get a job. The most common reasons are to save up for college, a car or just to have some extra money. Having your own income can help prepare for the future of financial independence from your parents.

“I wanted to have some spending money without relying on my parents for everything I bought,” senior Andrea Turner said.

While it is true that a job in high school can be stressful, there are benefits such as a sense of independence and learning valuable lessons about the workplace.

“It’s definitely challenging to keep up with so many things at once,” Turner said. “But I think it’s worth it to have a job for the experience and the people.”