McWilliams 1

Kyle McWilliams

Mrs. Cramer

Comp Pd. 7

5 March 2021

Teenage Responsibility

In 1979, nearly 60% of American teenagers were employed, an all-time high. Today, just

over one-third, or 35%, of teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are part of the workforce. The

number of teens with jobs may have decreased since ’79, but the benefits of working at an early

age has not. Teenagers should have after school jobs because it helps to build work ethic and

responsibility.

To begin, teenage students need afterschool jobs to help build work ethic for themselves.

Teens are at a stage in life between childhood and adulthood. Most still living with their parents

therefore dependent, but still seeking the independence they crave. A job after school for teens

helps build their time management skills because not only will they have to manage their

schoolwork, but also their job workload. (Morin) Time management is an important skill of work

ethic in life. The fact that you do not have little, or any leisure time can be a deal breaker for

many teens. Another way it helps build work ethic is through the doubled workload. In order to

have an after-school job, you must learn the importance of prioritizing, the amount of work you

have in a school plus workday could be overwhelming without this skill. The skill to prioritize

major assignments over little ones first is something that can be done to keep your grades up and

still be able to work outside of school. When a teen has this skill through an after-school job,

they are better prepared for the adulthood they have coming ahead of them.
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Additionally, after-school jobs are influential in a teen's life by helping to build

responsibility. Having an after-school job gives a teenager more things to accomplish daily. This

extra workload can lead to messing up basic tasks, or just forgetting about things. When this

happens, it is important to own up to your mistakes and being honest with an employer. With an

after-school job, comes money. An important skill you learn with having a job is your

responsibility to manage money. (Morin) Paying bills are an important part of adulthood, and

learning this skill as a teen, can be very important to your development. You learn to save money

up to pay expenses with your money from paychecks. With responsibility being an important life

skill, learning it through a job as a teen can drastically help those who need it.

On the other hand, some people contend that a teen getting an after-school job can lead

them to substance abuse. However, I disagree with this statement because getting a job doesn’t

just change a person’s morals. Even though a teen may have extra spending money, that doesn't

mean they are just going to try harmful substances. If the teen has good people around them and

a strong set of morals from their parents, they should be fine. Although students may have the

money to buy illegal substances when they get a job, that doesn't mean that they will.

Also in contrast, it is argued that teens getting an afterschool job could result in missed

opportunities for the student. Although true to a certain extent, many employers that hire teens

know that they are a student first and respect that, so they will usually work around your

schedule. Thus, allowing teens to do what they enjoy. If anything, getting a job helps to create

more opportunities for the student because they can now afford to do what they want with friends

when they aren’t working. After school jobs do little to interfere with opportunities for the

students, if anything they can introduce new ones.

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In conclusion, work ethic and responsibility are two important traits learned from having

an after-school job, so students should consider it. A students’ work ethic is built up through time

management with a doubled workload. A teen's responsibility is tested and built upon with being

held accountable, and the saving of money. With this information, I encourage those who do not

have an after-school job to pursue one, and those who have a teenager should emphasize the

importance of getting a job at an early age.

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Works Cited

Amy Morin, LCSW. “What Are the Best Part-Time Jobs for Teens?” Verywell Family, 3 Apr.

2021, www.verywellfamily.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-afterschool-jobs-for-teens-

2610471#pros-and-cons-of-part-time-jobs-for-teens.