OPINION: Why you should get a summer j*b?

By Prisha Garg ‘26

Graphic by Prisha Garg ‘26.

Summer is a time of sunshine, ice cream, and lots of free time. After the treacherous school year has come to an end and you look forward to another year of education, you are given two months free of any academic burden and waking up realizing you forgot to submit that assignment due at 11:59.

At first, that freedom feels amazing. You can sleep in, hang out with friends whenever you want, binge shows, go outside, or just do nothing. But after a while, an underlying feeling might start to creep up.

What am I actually doing with my time? For about 37% of high school students between the ages of 16-19 in the U.S., one answer is getting a summer job.

At first, that prospect can feel intimidating. Working long hours, dealing with customers, committing your time to work when you could be doing literally anything else–it doesn't exactly sound like the ideal summer. And for many people, the assumption is that it's just about earning minimum wage and giving up your free time.

But the more you look past that and talk to people who have had summer jobs, you start to understand there's more to it than $15.35 per hour.

Lets hear from some students in our community who have summer jobs and learn about their experiences and learnings from their job.

Students take on all kinds of roles over the summer. Some work in retail or food service, learning how to interact with customers and manage fast paced environments. Others find internships or work with local businesses, to gain experience in potential career paths they're already interested in.. Some jobs are more structured and professional, while others are more casual, but all of them require a level of responsibility that's different from school.

A typical work day can get quite busy. Lexi Ye ‘26 explains how her job at Menchies frozen yogurt as a cashier involved “A lot of problem solving on the spot.” It's a different kind of pressure than school, but it's one that teaches you how to function in real-world settings.

Ian Wiltz ‘27 works at Oaks Amusement Park as a party manager in the roller rink and agrees with Ye, He says “I’ve strengthened my problem-solving, customer service, and patience.”

And while earning money is definitely a big motivator, it's usually not the only thing students take away from the experience.

Having a job forces you to think differently about your time. When your day is structured around shifts, you start to value your free time more. “It gave more structure to my days,” said Ye “over the summer I don’t have anything to do, so having a job gave me a schedule to go by." Instead of days blending together, work created a routine and sense of purpose for her.

You start to become more intentional about how you spend not just time but money as well. Earning your own money changes how you see spending, it's no longer just about numbers on a screen but something that’s directly connected to your effort and the hours you put into your job.

Wiltz attests to this and shared “I just love working with kids and creating experiences they’ll actually remember–or at least hopefully brag about at school.”

There are also the less obvious benefits. Communication skills improve quickly when you're constantly interacting with coworkers and customers. You build your confidence as you get comfortable handling unfamiliar situations. Even small things, like learning how to stay organized, manage stress, or take initiative begin to improve your everyday decision making and personal skills.

That being said, not everyone has a job, and not everyone necessarily wants one. Some students spend their summers focusing on other priorities like travelling, spending time with family, volunteering, camps, or just taking a break after a demanding school year,and that's just as valid. Summer doesn't have to look the same for everyone.

Still, for those who do choose to work, the experience often ends up being more meaningful than expected. What starts as "just a job” can turn into something that builds your independence and helps give a sense of purpose to an otherwise unstructured summer, and even possibly shape future interests.

Wiltz summed up his experience by saying “The job isn’t hard, it’s fun, laid back, and a good way to build my resume and skills.”

For students who are considering getting a job but aren't sure where to start, it's worth knowing that opportunities are often closer than they seem. Local businesses, community organizations, and even just asking around can open doors. The process can feel intimidating at first, but most people begin with little to no experience.

At the end of the day, a summer job isn't just about filling time, it's about being intentional about how you want to spend it. Whether that means working, relaxing, or a mix of both, the most important thing is being intentional about what you take away from those two months.

While summer always feels long at the beginning, it goes by faster than you think. How you spend it, whether that includes a job or not, can end up mattering more than you expected and also changing you in ways you didn't think of before.