Tag: teens

Planning and support help JHS teens balance school with part-time jobs

by Breslyn Dozal

Balancing school and a job can be tough for students. It takes good time management to handle both without falling behind.

All students are different. Whether it’s studying or dressing a certain way, there’s one thing they all have in common. They need jobs! The real thing is, how do they maintain a job while being a student?

“I usually only work at least three days a week unless I pick up more shifts, but I try and get most of my school work done if I work that specific night. Sometimes I’ll plan out my week just so I know everything that I have going on,” said senior Kendall Curry, who works at 7brew Coffee.

When planning a routine, making sure students have everything sorted out is one of the hardest things. Many steps come when making a routine or schedule. The biggest thing teens can do is set a goal and have self motivation.

“I would say, my mindset helps me focus on what the next step is to the ending step,” said sophomore Marcus Baker, who works at Taco Bell.

Graphic by Breslyn Dozal.

Being a student athlete may also be a challenge when it comes to balancing work and school. On top of school work, students have practice and games which might make it hard to get to work on time or get there in general. 

“Do school work quick, work the days I can, and practice when I can,” said sophomore Kaden Waters, who works at Culver’s

When asked, Baker said being considerate of the time given and managing time well helps him most when it comes to being a student athlete and balancing work.

Talking to coaches and employers about working around students’ schedules is the best way to form a good working relationship alongside school work. Most coaches find a way to plan important stuff around athletes’ schedules. 

Another good way to plan is asking others in the same situation how they do things. What their strategies are and how they manage everything. How they keep up with school, work, and sometimes sports too.

“I keep up with my job by working no more than 30 hours and not working multiple days back to back,” said senior Maxwell Schoonover, who works at Kroger.

It’s also important for students to enjoy high school years. If students are always spending time doing work or sports and school, they’ll forget to have fun. Another thing is overwork. Working too much and not giving enough will make everything 10 times harder.

“It is important to work but it’s also important to have fun in high school and school is already like a job so it’s important to give yourself a rest,” said Schoonover

One thing that Jeffersonville High School offers is academic pathways. These pathways are mandatory but very useful. It helps students to take certain classes to be prepared for out of school work. It also offers real job sites during students senior and junior year. Helping them prep and know what you’re stepping into.

Another thing being offered is Prosser. Prosser is a real life learning experience. With work based teaching, Prosser helps students get the experience they need.

“One of the beautiful things now about high school education is because of the ways the pathways are able to work your senior year during the school day and that is a part of your academic portfolio. You can get a grade for it, you get release time from school. You can get school credit, earn money, get your job during the school day. And that’s a part of the state’s initiative on this work- based learning,” said Jeffersonville High School principal Pam Hall

Balancing work and school takes effort, but with good planning and support, students can succeed in both. It’s all about staying flexible and focused on their goals.

by jhshyphen

Column: Teenagers are too young to have their whole futures figured out 

by Liddia Waterbury

Teenagers shouldn’t be forced into choosing a career before they even know themselves.

Freshmen, especially here at school, are encouraged to select a career academy and are required to be in the college and career program. 

Indiana added readiness seals to the diploma last year, “to better prepare Hoosier students for the future.” Out of the three, one seal is required to be on our diplomas when we graduate. One of these seals is the employment seal.

The employment seal requires students to complete a market-driven credential of value aligned to a specific occupation, three courses in a Career and Technology Education (CTE) pathway, an approved career preparation experience aligned to Indiana’s CSA program, or an approved, locally-created pathway. 

With the employment seal or the plus version, students need 150+ hours of pre-apprenticeship or moderate youth apprenticeship of work-based learning. This can cause a lot of stress, as it requires choosing a pathway and completing all these hours to obtain this seal.  

Chart by Liddia Waterbury.

Teens often feel pressured to choose a career path early due to expectations from parents, society, and schools, which include programs such as college and career readiness initiatives and seals of approval. This pressure can lead to anxiety, burnout, or regret later, especially if our early decisions don’t align with our evolving interests.

Many teenagers don’t feel they have enough information to make such a big decision. According to an OECD report, a large number of students feel unprepared. 47% agree “I worry that I am not prepared for life after… school.” 34% say they don’t feel well-informed about possible career paths. 

Adolescence is a period of “storm and stress,” marked by emotional changes, identity formation, and uncertainty about the future, particularly in school. This is because teens’ self-identity and interests are still developing. Forcing a career decision too early can limit our exploration and lead to a poor long-term fit. 

Long-term stress in adolescence doesn’t just affect well-being now; it can also impact participation while doing work in early adulthood. 

Teenagers might lock into a career choice too early, only to realize later we don’t enjoy it. This can lead to switching majors, careers, wasted time, or regret. As our interests and identities evolve, early commitments can limit our future options. 

College and career programs, as well as readiness seals, play a crucial role in shaping our future in college and the workforce. However, schools should emphasize exploration over commitment. 

As teens, we need time to understand ourselves before making significant decisions about our futures. When we are rushed into choosing a career, we are only pressured and confused. Giving us space to explore helps us choose a path that truly fits who we are.

by jhshyphen

Teen goal setting helps students prepare for their futures

by Kori Washington

Freshman Jonayzia Dickerson has known that she wanted to be a forensic tech ever since eighth grade, and right now, that is her main goal in life. 

“This goal is important to me because I want to pursue a career in science and medical studies,” said Dickerson. 

Teen goal setting is more talked about and more pushed on today’s teens, so they can have successful and better lives.

Also, today’s teens have more opportunities, which causes them to be more motivated, according to health academy counselor Amy Colangelo.

“I think students are more motivated because there are more resources and there are more opportunities as they get older,” said Colangelo.  

“Find what interests you, come to school, set small goals; then, once you meet that goal, set a bigger one.”

Health Academy Counselor Amy Colangelo

For example, freshman Krislynn Hughes, who is pursuing her career goal of being a veterinarian, said, “My love for animals and not wanting to be broke when I’m older keeps me motivated to chase my goal.”

Also, according to Colangelo, it’s very important when setting goals for students to find something that interests them. 

For example, Dickerson said, “My love for science is what keeps me motivated. I love science because it combines all subjects into one.” 

Even though most teens have interests that keep them motivated, some teens have distractions that keep them unmotivated.

For example, business academy principal Matt Barker said, “Most teens have trouble with goal setting because of social media. It gets them distracted and not focusing on their goals.”

Despite these distractions, Colangelo still tries to give teens advice.

“Find what interests you, come to school, set small goals; then, once you meet that goal, set a bigger one,” she said.

Baker agreed. “Don’t set unrealistic goals; have short goals, then move on to bigger goals.”

by jhshyphen