Summer break is a time for kids to cut loose, have fun, and be free of responsibility, doing whatever they want. However, most of the things kids want to do these days cost a lot of money. So, the question is, what are us kids left to do? Well, as boring as it sounds, working might just be one of the best options.

I'm not saying you should be working 8-hour shifts every day of every summer starting at the age of 12. Once you hit 16, and your friends start driving, you're all going to want to go out to the beach, the movies, or maybe just to that new mall down the street, to "check it out." All of these sound really fun, but they all have another pretty big thing in common. They cost some serious cash to do, especially if you're going daily.

A summer job is a great way to make that cash, and some extra in case you meet a really cute girl (or guy,) while you're out. Part-timing at a store in the mall, or any little retail shop or fast food place, at minimum wage, you'll be making about $200 every two weeks, which is some pretty decent spending money for a kid in high school. And hey, if you're a genius, you'll save that money and build up a small backup fund for college or whatever other money devouring expenditure you deem necessary. When I was in high school, most of that money I made working retail went right into food and gas, easily the two most valuable necessities of my life at that point. Some of you might be wondering, "What about those kids who need to work a job to help their family pay bills?" Well, yes, I see you, and I commend you for overcoming your hardships and making ends meet, however, this article is speaking to ALL students, and I don't think you guys need to be convinced to take on a summer job.

Another great perk to working a summer job is wherever you work, you'll be getting a better understanding and respect for those of us out there already working those jobs. Fast food workers go through a hell I will hopefully never grasp, and on the retail side of things, we see you, customers who shove their clothes in the middle of a random pile, making a huge mess. I'm only smiling because I need money, but in my mind, you're going down. Anyways, building an understanding of how hard it is working with customers will help students in school be a little more delicate with their shopping, making the employees happier and creating a more positive and hospitable environment.

My final point in this article is the way a summer job will build your character. I know, you've heard it before and you're already rolling your eyes. Hear me out on this, though. Working in retail has given me a whole new perspective on things, and it's really shaped my character as a whole. I would have never dreamed of writing an online article and posting it all over the place before, but working a summer job helped me become more comfortable forcing others to listen to me. That was a joke, but seriously, I'm infinitely more outgoing and personable now than I ever would have been without these jobs. That's why I wrote this, because at the end of the day, retail made me a better person, and I know retail, or fast food, or any other customer based job will do the same for you.