Growing up in high school, I was always known as the one with a job. I got my job the summer going into 10th grade as a swim instructor and a lifeguard at my local YMCA. I did it year round and it always took up most of my time. I learned so much through my job. I learned not only about responsibility but I learned more about myself than I would if I never got the job. I think that every one should experience a portion of their high school career with a job. If you're thinking about getting a job while you're in high school, this is why.

1. You Value The Money You Make.

Before I got my job, I was always asking my parents for money and never really took into account that their money was something they worked so hard to get. When I got my job and when I got my first paycheck, I spent it with in 2 days. I couldn't just ask my parent for more money because I would get yelled at for spending the money I worked hard to get on something stupid. I learned that having my own money gave me the responsibility of spending it wisely and not just wasting it on stupid things. I learned to save and make a budget with the money I made.

2. You Learn More About Yourself.

The job that I had challenged me. I was working with kids so there was no "bad days" when I worked. It was smiles 100% of the time and if you needed to cry, you would just have to wait until you were done. When I first started working, I didn't know what I was doing and was so used to relying on everyone for the things I could've easily done myself. Overtime, I learned to do things on my own like cash in my check and put gas in the car and other things. I had to grow up and without the job I had, I would not be where I am right now.

3. It Veers You Into A Direction For Your Life.

I can honestly say that without this job, I would not be majoring in teaching. Through this job, I've found my passion and something that I love to do. I would never have known how to connect with children and teach them in a way that they could understand. If you don't like your job and you absolutely dread coming in every time you have to work, then you would know that this isn't what you would want to do for the rest of your life.

4. It Acts As Your Escape.

I had things go on with my family for the majority of my high school life and the boss I had acted more than just my boss. He would always let me come into his office and just let me talk to him if I had to. He told me that instead of getting angry and keeping that anger within myself, I should use my job as an escape. After he said that, teaching swim lessons sort of became my therapy. I would come into work in a bad mood and as soon as I started teaching, I would forget everything that happened. I would get out of the water and feel like nothing had happened. Instead of turning to other things like drugs and alcohol, I taught swim lessons. Which is not to say, you should work every time you're in a bad mood because I did that and it took a lot of my time out of me. Be sure to balance every thing.

5. You Learn To Prioritize.

I'm gonna be honest. I missed a number of school events in high school but the thing with having a job is that you're going to have to work football game nights. That's life. Sometimes you're going to miss the football game or a play. That's just how life works.

6. You Learn To Be Organized.

I would get private lessons and the thing with private lessons, you go to schedule them when ever you wanted. I would be juggling 8 private lessons at a time and so being the one to contact them, get them scheduled in one week, being sure to get my school work done, and on top of that, I had to help out with my theatre so I had to find time to do that. My Lilly Pullitzer agenda became my best friend and there was not a day where something wasn't written in. Going to college, I've learned that being organized and being on top of the ball 100% of the time was something that I'm glad I learned before moving away.

7. You're Workmates Understand You More Than Most Of Your Schoolmates.

Sometimes I would be talking to someone from school about work and all the things I had to do after work and they would look at me and tell me "Why don't you just find someone to take your shift?" This would always get under my skin because it was like they never understood. I knew the people that I worked with would understand because they did the same thing I did and they had to juggle the same things I was having to juggle. I could honestly go on and on and on about my "Y fam" but going to work when you're young with people that are your age is comforting.

8. Opportunities, Opportunities, Opportunities!

Having this job, I've gotten so many opportunities. Doing this job for a long time was something I took pride in when I would write a resume. I met with my counselor before I graduated and I told him that I was majoring in teaching and I had been teaching swim lessons for 4 years. He told me that doing that was impressive and to colleges it would show that I knew what I wanted to do. Plus, when I was teaching, I did get a few babysitting jobs that helped when I needed the extra money.

I'm not saying that you need to choose a job for the rest of your high school career and that you need to have a job for the rest of high school but it's a good experience to have. Plus, the minute that you get your first paycheck, you're gonna want to keep working:)

Much Love Always. -Addison.