Pro: Having a job in high school is a great way for students to start saving up money before they are out on their own in the real world. Having a job while in school teaches students responsibility, work ethic, time management and so much more. Students who earn their own money are being taught the value of the dollar. The younger you learn this skill the better. Having a job now will help students build a good foundation for future jobs. It looks good on resumes and college applications. It also helps them discover what they like and dislike, giving them a better idea of what they would like to do in the future. While it may be a struggle for some to balance schoolwork and a job, schools offer study halls where students can get their work done during the school day.

Con: While having a job gives students more flexibility when it comes to money, there are drawbacks to having less free time outside of school hours. When it comes to students desiring to keep their grades as high as possible, having less time to study and work on the assignments of numerous classes can be strenuous. The challenges of balancing school, a job, and keeping up with one’s personal life is not easy to come by for everybody. The mental strain that comes with having little to no free time can cause burnout, and this can lead to students being unable to keep up with the rigor that school can bring. High school can be draining for everyone, and adding a job to the mix may cause even more stress. Grades and mental health deteriorating are not an equal exchange for holding up a job to garner a little bit of extra cash.