I was 15 years old when I started to feel embarrassed asking my mom for money. If I wanted to have lunch with friends or buy a birthday gift for someone, I wanted my own means to do so. After all, my mom wouldn’t be the one eating the meal at lunch or celebrating the friend’s birthday, I would.
After this realization, I immediately crafted and submitted my résumé to Brassica. I was excited when I received an email telling me I had an interview with the manager.
The interview process forced me to learn to be professional. I looked up videos on the Internet to practice answering interview questions and practiced further with my mom.
The interview came, and I executed all of my knowledge perfectly. This work paid off, as the manager offered me a job at the end of the interview.
While adjusting to the work environment, I completed multiple training shifts during which I learned the basics of my position. I was to open and close the serving line, serve customers, prepare certain foods and maintain cleanliness throughout my shift. I also frequently communicated with my boss during my shifts.
These responsibilities are standard for a part-time position and are the reason every high school student should be employed at least once before graduating.
The fate of the impending first day was in my hands. By preparing food, I was part of a process that involved numerous people other than myself. Having to communicate with my boss strengthened my professionalism and ability to speak to authority figures. Also, by being the youngest employee, I learned how to navigate having acquaintances who are older.
These skills were vital to my growth in maturity as a high school student, which I will carry with me into my future in college. Learning how to be responsible for something apart from oneself is entirely important for one’s own maturity and independence. I am no longer stressed about having responsibilities after graduating from high school because I learned how to take care of my own work through my employment at Brassica.
Not only does being employed allow high school students to learn responsibility, but it also prompts them to learn financial independence. I opened my first bank account after starting my second job at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus. Since I am under 18 years old, my mom can watch over my account, but I still have full control of my money.
The bank app I have on my phone tells me how much money flows into and out of my account and allows me to move money to and from my savings and checking accounts. This visual of how much money I receive from paychecks helps me learn to be financially independent. Knowing that I will be attending college after high school, I keep track of how much money I spend, where I spend it and how much I need to save with every paycheck. I know how to budget my money so that I have solid savings through being employed as a high school student.
Overall, having a job as a high school student reaps numerous benefits that should not be ignored. In order to grow into a mature adult after high school, students must be employed so that they can learn how to be responsible and financially independent.