DRSS Students Open Up About… Working and Going to School

As high schoolers move up grade levels, the level of responsibility also goes up. This can mean more chores, less reminders, and for some, jobs. You may or may not know, but many of your fellow classmates might already have jobs. Do you want a job, or have been thinking about getting a job, but you’re just not quite sure? This is the right story for you.

First, I interviewed Dylan Flippo, a junior at DRSS. He currently works full time at Taco Bell; full time at Taco Bell is around twenty hours per week. When asked what his favorite and least favorite part about working was, he responded with, “I personally love working with customers who are appreciative of our work we put in for them, but I would have to say my least favorite thing is sometimes customers can be very rude and degrading to people working fast food and it irritates me. I can’t lie; I used to feel different towards fast food workers, but after meeting the people I have through Taco Bell, I have completely different outlook. They are just like us, trying to get by.”

I then asked him what he would say to someone who is thinking about getting a full time or part time job. He said, “I’d say go for it! Coming from someone who doesn’t like confrontation very well, you have to come out of your shell a little bit. Make sure your manager can be flexible with the hours you want to work. Also, I’d say a big thing for me is to know how to say no. Because if your manager wants to hire you, but isn’t flexible with your hours or if you decide you don’t want to work there because you don’t like the environment or the vibe it gave you, you can absolutely say no and keep looking! Other than that, good luck on your journey.”

Second, I interviewed Danielle Lindsey, also a junior at DRSS. I asked her what the best thing about being employed while also going to school and she said, “I like that I am able to buy stuff and not have to ask my parent for money all the time for school functions. It makes me feel more responsible.” I then asked her the same question I asked Dylan, which was does she have any advice for someone looking to go to work and school at the same time. She said, “I would say talk with your employer, so that they know that school comes first. Also, work small shifts and then go into bigger shifts when summer starts.”

In conclusion, if you are looking to go to work and school at the same time, don’t forget to work with your manager for flexible hours, and never put work ahead of school.