You could ask almost anyone in my grade where I work and they would be able to tell you the answer: Chico’s. The unique Mexican restaurant is basically my second home considering I spend so many of my school nights and weekends there. Though many people think that having a job in addition to school and the other activities that a high-schooler juggles can be too much, I find that there are many benefits to having an afterschool job.

Let’s start with the obvious: extra spending money. Probably the largest benefit of having an afterschool job is the paycheck that comes at the end of the month. Most jobs available to high schoolers pay minimum wage, which may not seem like a lot, but will adds up. The extra spending money makes it a lot easier to fill up the gas tank, buy that cool shirt you really want, or make a trip to Sonic with your friends without having to ask your parents for money.

Another benefit of an afterschool job is teaching stress and time management. When adding something else to your life that requires a lot of your time, balancing and prioritizing becomes important. Having to decide whether you do your homework between school and work or waiting until after and staying up late or realizing that you’re going to have to give up hanging out with your friends one Friday night is the reality of having an afterschool job. Though these are the most desirable situations, they make you more conscious of the decisions that you make and teach valuable skills that will come in handy in college and later in life.

A third benefit of an afterschool job is the development of people skills. Every day you interact with other people in many different areas, whether it be school, home, church, sports, or somewhere else. Having an afterschool job adds a new dynamic and a new set of people that you interact with to this list. You have to learn how to deal with people on a more professional level, work with new people, and in most cases interact with customers.

Not only do you get to build your people skills on a professional level, you also get to make new friends. Especially at RMA, you spend the majority of the time with people you’ve known for a long time and the same groups of people. When you get an afterschool job, you start spending a lot of your time with a new group of people. Once you meet new people, you can make new friends that will be there for you no matter what!

The final important benefit of having an afterschool job is learning how to handle your mistakes. Starting a new job can be stressful because you are concerned about messing up but no matter how hard you try, you will make mistakes. It is inevitable, and a bit embarrassing when it happens, but the mistakes you make now in a job setting will give you the opportunity to learn how to deal with the situation in the comfortable environment of a part-time job rather than having to learn later in a more serious situation.

Overall, having an afterschool job has more benefits than what meets the eye and might be worth a shot!