Students getting jobs adds pressure to work load, stress

Getting a job in high school is desirable, but is it essential? With teens it’s known that grades take a back seat when a job joins the picture. The pressure of adding another 20 hours of work a week is too much for some. Yet teens do it anyway, because they need the extra cash.

Junior Ashley Volk has worked at the local Dairy Queen for the past year. She works anywhere from 25 to 30 hours a week.

“At first my grades dropped because my top priority was work,” said Volk, “I just really liked the money.”

Along with money, also comes the feeling of independence and freedom. No longer having to ask mom and dad to pay for the movie ticket or longing for that pair of wanted shoes.

Junior Isabel Gutierrez, who works at Ming Moon, feels all the pressure of working while attending school is worth it. She puts in at least 20 hours a week.

“I can finally pay for my own things,” Gutierrez said.

According to everydaylife.com more than 20 hours a week during the school year leads to grade and behavior problems. The more hours teens work, the lower their grades tend to be.

Not all feel the thrill of independence or the feeling of money in hand is worth all the pressure that comes along with being employed. Sophomore Angel Castillo is one of the few who think waiting to get a job after high school is the best plan.

“I’m always tired and I work a lot of hours,” Castillo said, “I miss my free time.”