The influence of work on students’ lives is considerable. For some, balancing both can create a stressful schedule and leave little to no free time to manage all their responsibilities. For others, having a job provides a sense of freedom and individuality, allowing them to rely less on their guardians for financial support. 

Miranda Trent, a graduate from Steinbrenner high school (class of 2025) and senior Elodie Lamberton, are two students who experienced firsthand how employment can impact their school life. Trent explained “I started working at the age of 16, my first job being at smoothie king, I felt it had a positive impact on my social life, having access to money to spend allowing me to do more outside of school. It was an adjustment at the beginning as my schedule became a bit more rigid,” said Trent. Some students, like Trent, believe that work hours typically enhance their high school experience. 

On the other hand, Lamberton explains, “Work always seemed like more of a challenge with less of a positive outcome as it impacted my ability to complete assignments in  

in a timely manner. Leading to school being put second over work. I felt like work was hindering my ability to succeed in school.” From this perspective, it’s evident that work is not always beneficial to everyone’s school life. This can cause school burnout as completing assignments after a long shift can lead to sleep deprivation. The buildup of work makes each day more difficult than the one before. 

These contrasting experiences highlight the different impacts of balancing work with school. Individual circumstances play a crucial role in the effects on students; some being provided independence and structure while others have a new source of stress affecting their academic priorities. It is clear that as students navigate this balance some are presented with challenges, yet others gain freedom.