Dog days of summer release hordes of teen workers into work force
As temperatures rise, teens struggle to balance the fleeting moments of their childhoods with saving money for future endeavors. Summer, known for being carefree and filled with memories of bonfires and late nights with friends, will stay with students through adulthood. This is what makes the choice between total freedom and a steady income a difficulty for America’s youth.
Most teens can land a position in a fast food chain or retail store as both businesses tend to have increased labor demands during the summer. This is where many future workers develop key skills applicable to almost any job. Attributes such as teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution can all be learned while waiting tables or making sundaes. This ability to polish customer service skills can make landing a bigger and better job easier. These seemingly easy, entry-level opportunities provide a perfect learning environment for young workers.
As expenses start to add up, however, the paycheck is what keeps many coming back to work each day. The pay helps teens learn how to manage money while still having the safety of home to learn from frivolous mistakes. This newfound financial freedom instills responsibility at a young age, a valuable skill not to be taken for granted. The hard-earned cash supports teens’ summer adventures, funding the activities and sweet treats needed to make it through the season’s heat.
However, many struggle to see any real chance at saving big bucks due to low hourly rates. But, the small wage tends to cover enough bases to make any summer worth remembering. The biggest draw to having a job, despite its challenges, is the newfound freedom it brings to a young person’s life. No longer having to ask permission to buy every little thing makes all the days of serving rude customers worthwhile.
Truly an experience like no other, working in fast food and retail gives insight into the inner workings of facilities some take for granted. Some may argue that working in such conditions is an experience everyone should have in order to gain a greater respect for those in lesser-paying positions. Such work also brings about another lesser-known skill which many overlook: patience. From cleaning up obnoxious messes, wondering how one person can create so many crumbs, to getting blamed for messed up orders when running food, a vital lesson learned in customer service is the power of finding perspective.
Many businesses would go bankrupt without adolescent labor. Teenagers have fewer opportunities because of age and lack of experience, making them the perfect candidates for the jobs no one else wants to do. This brings a large range of workers to any given business. Due to such a wide range of backgrounds, the most unlikely friendships tend to form through summer employment. People who would normally never give each other a passing glance in the hallways of school are forever bonded by their shared memory of surviving a chaotic dinner rush.
There is always the option to forgo working during the summer, enjoy the time off school, and relax for a while. The break in school days creates a perfect opportunity to explore options such as volunteering, and summer programs specialized to prepare students for the future. All of this may enhance a resume, and build up a hefty list of references for college applications and career prospects. Unfortunately, many can’t afford such a luxury. Whether it be to pay the bills or invest in further education, for many, summer serves as a chance to save up without having to simultaneously balance schoolwork.
In the end, a summer job is a vital part of any teenager’s resume. Employment serves as the first step to gaining independence and comes with a side of exhilarating freedom, which any teenager is sure to enjoy. Through the good and the bad, these jobs shape the future workforce and continue to provide summer fun for high schoolers everywhere.
by Delaney Smith
Published May 20 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue VIII