Do you like money? Get a job. Many students at Minnetonka High School are gainfully employed, and many are longing for the freedom of a source of income. Regardless of if you have a job or not, it is as if getting a job is a step into our futures, as taxpayers and cogs in the machine. Fun!
Students want employment for a variety of reasons. Many need to save up for college, or concert tickets, new clothes, food, Starbucks, and whatnot. Rachel Autio, ‘24, says “Money is a big thing, but also I do really like my job. I’m a camp counselor at an art camp, and I get to help kids find their passion and explore it.” Having a job can be fulfilling, even the minimum wage jobs offered to teenagers. Kiera Mondale, ‘24, employed at a LifeTime in childcare, agreed with Autio, “I like money, and also I like my job. Honestly it’s so fun and they are so cute. Sometimes it feels like it isn’t a job.”
Even though there aren’t many opportunities for building a career and earning six figures at this stage in life, there are many jobs that students at MHS have access to. Internships are one option, though competitive and time consuming. Restaurant service, grocery stores, coffee shops, retail, and childcare, seem to be the most readily available. Mondale reports that she has heard the most about “working at a restaurant, working at Target, being a camp counselor,” and that her “cousin works at FedEx.” Some jobs are miserable, others can be kind of fun. Makaya Girmay, ‘26, shared that the ideal job for her would be at a bookstore. This author certaily thinks that sounds pleasant.
If you are on the hunt for a job, pleasant or not, it won’t be hard to find. Businesses in Minnesota are having a hard time finding employees. The Grand Rapids Herald Review stated that there are only “54 workers for every 100 jobs available in the state of Minnesota.” Local businesses, like restaurants and retail stores, are open for less hours, or even go out of business, because of staff shortages. The reality is, people are hiring. If you want a job, you can get one and make it work.
Part of employment difficulties that makes a job unpleasant is scheduling issues. High school students are busy. School feels like a full time job, and having a part time job on top of that can be a struggle. Mondale reports that it is not that big of a problem for her, “I honestly make my own schedule, I make my hours. I could pick up a shift but I don’t have to.” Autio says that “scheduling is hard with the school/ work balance, but good communication is key.” It’s hard, but you just have to make it work.
Student jobs can be both a valuable experience and a bit of a scheduling headache. Dealing with history notes and a five hour shift can be challenging, but in the long run you’re learning about time management and making so much money. You could also be learning about your passion for education, or engineering, or getting mosquito bites. These experiences are valuable, maybe even more so than school, in preparing for the corporate world or the dental insurance world, or the paid time off in the Florida Keys world. Start saving up now…
