Samantha is a Senior in high school. She is currently both enrolled in college classes and involved in clubs. She leaves directly to work at the Woodbury Commons after school to work a six hour shift. After getting off work at eight she does her homework in the following 3 hours and finds time to eat dinner. She then exhaustedly crawls into bed.
From school, to jobs, to extracurricular activities. How do children even have time to enjoy their youth anymore?
One of the reasons that many high school students are losing out on their youth is the notion of extracurriculars and clubs. A substantial amount of high school students overwork themselves just to invigorate their resume, immersing themselves in extracurriculars during the only down time they have. So many responsibilities consume children's time and drain their mental health, leading to burnout. Students spend their time trying to impress admission counselors, not just academically, but through engagement with their community.
Another youth waster comes in the form of after school jobs. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 22.5% of high school students are employed during the school year. This statistic has increased in recent years following its decline after the 90s. The majority of these working students have to attend their job almost directly after school, leaving a scarce amount of time for their everyday obligations including homework, self care, showering, or even eating.
Washingtonville senior Kathryn Dunworth has worked her job since her sophomore year. Kathryn acknowledges the difficulty and balance of having a job as a high school student. Kathryn expressed that, “It does get stressful sometimes but I make it work.” She then went on to say, “They're really flexible with [her] availability and if [she] has to change it.”
Alyana Frias is another hard working senior at Washingtonville High School. She both manages a job and supervises her two younger sisters. Alyana shared the liabilities she is responsible for both inside and outside school. She stated that “[She] loves working as a student because it gives [her] a sense of responsibility and it makes [her] branch out of [her] social anxiety.” Alyana also helps her parents by getting her younger sister off the bus and watching over them both. Alyana conveyed that “[her] sisters have shaped [her] into a hard working person.”
Not all these employed students provide just for themselves. In some families, students are the providers. This can be financial support or simply watching and supporting other siblings when parents cannot be present. From feeding siblings to helping with homework or picking them up from school, older siblings can play a crucial role in households.
So many students work exceptionally hard to provide for themselves and their families and to ensure they will have a fulfilling future. Balancing school, work, and family can be challenging. By developing time management and commitment, numerous high school students have learned to develop these skills and thrive.
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