BETWEEN classes, homework, and part-time jobs, high school students are learning one of life’s toughest lessons: how to balance it all. For many teens, managing a busy schedule has become the new normal. They rush from school to work, then home to study, often sacrificing free time and sleep just to keep up with their commitments.
AT Kearns High, it’s common to see students rushing to work right after the final bell rings. For some, getting a job means independence; for others, it’s about helping their families or saving up for the future, but between the long days, late-night homework, and limited free time, some students are trying to find a balance that keeps them from burning out.
ONE student, Leslie Rodriguez (12), who works in a retail store, is putting in about 20 to 30 hours a week. She chose to get a job because she wanted financial independence. “I wanted money of my own without having to ask my parents,” Rodriguez said. Juggling her work schedule with school assignments and activities has been a challenge. “It’s hard, I usually don’t balance everything,” she admitted. “I just pick the activity of the day and stick to it.”
RODRIGUEZ says working has affected her performance in school. “I believe there was a point that I had to choose one or the other; work or school,” she states. This is something many students can relate to here at Kearns High, where they sometimes choose to work or do homework/extracurriculars over working.
ANOTHER student, Jordin Hymas (12), who works full-time at Smith’s grocery store, is working an average of 40 hours a week. She said she started working to pay off her car and earn financial freedom. “I use my days off to do homework or hang out with friends,” Hymas said. Like many teens, Hymas finds that working full-time leaves little room for academics. “My job affects school performance, only because I don’t have a whole lot of time to do school work,” she admitted. Still, Hymas recognizes that the job has taught her valuable lessons about responsibility and time management.
FOR both students, the mental strain of dealing with so many responsibilities can be exhausting. “I never have time to do anything, it’s just go to school, work, go to sleep, and that routine is almost every day. It’s draining,” Rodriguez said. Hymas agreed, saying, “It makes stress levels a lot higher than needed.” Finding the time to manage it all takes some planning and persistence. Rodriguez uses a schedule to stay organized and less overwhelmed: “To manage my time, I just need a schedule. It helps with the routines,” she explained.
HYMAS states that with unpredictable shifts, time management isn’t always easy. “I don’t use any specific strategies. Just when I have time, I have time,” she said. For many students, the jobs don’t always line up with school commitments, adding to the challenge. Support from teachers and family also plays a big role in how well students manage their responsibilities. “A lot of teachers aren’t understanding the responsibilities,” Rodiguez stated. “Sometimes it’s hard because people just want you to do everything well.”
WHEN asked what they’d advice others who were considering a job, both students focused on boundaries. “My advice is don’t bring school-related stress to work and don’t bring work-related stress home,” Rodiguez suggested. “If you get a job, don’t work full time while you’re in school,” Hymas adds.
EVEN with the challenges, both students said working has taught them life skills that will extend to life after high school. They’ve learned about time management, commitment, and perseverance. Still, Rodriguez admitted she sometimes wishes she had more time to enjoy being a teenager. “If I could change one thing about working while in school, it would be not working,” she said. “High school is fun, and with a job, students don’t get to enjoy it as much.”
AT Kearns High, students such as Leslie and Jordin, as well as many others, are proving that their determination and discipline help them navigate through even the busiest of days. They may be tired, but they’re gaining experience that will last a lifetime. Balancing books and paychecks isn’t easy, but for these students, it’s all part of growing up.
