Working Students
At what age should a teenager start working? What are the benefits? What are the disadvantages?
A lot of people I know seem to have jobs. Most of them have gotten these in the past year or so but I know one boy who's been working since he was fourteen. So he's been working at the same place for five years and he isn't even twenty yet.
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Pros
Spending Money
Money is always good. Sure you don't get much above minimum wage and you are only working like twenty hours a week but that can be $150 a week for you to spend (or save). I can think of a few things I'd like to spend that money on. It can also offer someone the ability to start financial planing without the big risk of making mistakes. You still have your parents incase you make a mistake filling out your taxes or if you run out of money.
Work Experience
Before you have a job you don't really know what its like. When applying for jobs a lot of employers like to see that you've had previous jobs. Another thing is the people you get to meet. If you work in the mall or fast food you can become close with coworkers that you wouldn't have met otherwise. A lot of people make best friends for life through their highschool jobs.
Time Management
So you have school. You have sports. And you have a job. Having a lot going on can help you practice your time management for where it matters the real world. Its a skill for some people that takes years to develop so why not get an early start?
Cons
School
A job can inter fear with school. I know a girl who went from a straight A student to getting C's because of having a job. Sure a lot of people are able to have balance but some just can't. If you normally have to study a lot or just get stressed out easily then a job may be the best thing for you. That is when you are going to school anyways.
Independence
Having a job gives teenagers a false sense of independence sure they may be living at home rent free and eating mommy and daddy's food but they get full of themselves. The stop caring about school, or going to college because they can make money now. They don't however realize without mommy and daddy it isn't easy to live off minimum wage.
