By Lauren Cevallos
Round Table reporter
For many high school teenagers having a job means the allowance to have more freedom and a higher level of maturity.
Teenagers are set apart among adults because unlike them they go to school full time, giving them the option to either get a job or not. The major appeal for a job is money. Although, some may be spent on movies, dinner, shopping, and other weekend activities. Many students rely on that money to pay for an even more important expense – college.
College becomes the reason for many teens to start working for their own sake. As years go on, college rates grow pricier and unless a student is guaranteed a scholarship, he or she may become responsible in whole or in part of their college tuition.
For a number of Middletown High School students, their well-off lifestyle can be easily taken for granted. Many don’t have to worry about budgets and payments while others work to keep their families on their feet.
Although some teens are expected to find a job, others simply find a job because they know how important it is to get a taste of the real world that awaits them after college.
“I would really want a job, because I need money for college, but I don’t have a car or my license to get around. That’s probably why businesses make their age requirement 16 or older”, said MHS junior Lauren Holda. Holda said she would want to work at Weis, since it’s so close to her house.
A contributing factor in teens without jobs is the job search itself. Some businesses that have “Help Wanted” signs on their doors hint for a new employee, but do not promise the job will be given to just anyone. That’s where the interview process comes in.
These means in order to win over the boss create stress and anxiety. The thought of pleasing management with qualification and personality make getting the job even harder. “Interviewing scares me. I’d rather just get the job on the spot like everyone else would”, said MHS senior Shawn Byrne.
Finding a business in need for employees is tough enough, but waiting for the call that decides between getting the job or not might be the toughest part.
