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Check Out Final Issue of Vol. 57 and This Years 1st Semester Issue!
Jobs are a great way for students to gain valuable work experience, earn some extra money, and develop important skills for their future careers. Part-time jobs have many benefits including strengthening responsibility, time management, communication skills, networking, financial literacy and allowing career exposure. In recent years, studies have shown that about 5.5 million teenagers in America between the ages of 16 and 19 were enrolled in the workforce. Of those 5.5 million teenagers, the percentage of female to male teenagers in the workforce differs by 1.1%, with females at 21.7% and males at 19.6%. In the state of Hawai’i, Child Labor Laws state that a child labor certificate or “work permit” is required for working minors under the age of 18. Ke Ali’i team dug deeper into one student’s profile at Damien Memorial, senior Abegail Aguirre, to learn more about Damien students taking on the workforce.
Abegail Aguirre, who also goes by “Abby”, has attended Damien Memorial for almost two years now. As a senior, she is taking numerous courses including: AP English Literature, AP Calculus, AP Computer Science, Consumer Economics, Theology, Fitness, and Art. While being a full-time student, Abby also has a part-time job at Raising Canes near the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her usual work schedule is four days a week, six hours per shift, and she is paid $16.30 an hour. An interviewer from Ke Ali’i team asked Abby about her experience of being a full-time student at Damien while working a part-time job.
Abby said that she applied online after seeing a sign in the store that said they were hiring. After being interviewed, hired, and attending an orientation, Abby began working in September 2023. Ever since then, her day-to-day life has drastically changed. When asked how she manages her time, Abby stated, “I try to do school work during the day at school, especially days I work, so I have less to worry about later. I go home to change and head over to work. And the majority of the time, I eat dinner on my break so I can sleep when I get home.”
With the amount of work Abby does, her maturity and time management skills might be more advanced than those of her peers who don’t have a job. “Patience, customer service, working with more diverse groups of people such as those with different backgrounds, personalities, and a range of ages,” are just a few life skills that Abby has gained since starting her job. “I’ve found myself getting better at making friends and socializing with people I wouldn’t normally talk to,” said Abby. Being a transfer student in her junior year, making friends at a new high school is difficult for many. Starting a job around this time allowed Abby to gain the confidence necessary to be more social, which allowed her to come out of her shell and make many new friendships.
If you are on the fence about starting a job during high school, here is some advice for you from Abby: “Find a flexible job — having a job is always good, so just find an easy part-time job that you think you would enjoy and benefit from; and communication is so important — communicate with your manager if you’re struggling with balancing work and school, they’ll most likely help you in situations where you’ll be able to set your availability to less days or hours.” If you are inspired by Abby’s story and interested in gaining work experience, attend job fairs or networking events, reach out to companies you’re interested in, and ask for help from your counselors. Retail businesses such as fast food joints, clothing shops, and restaurants, are usually good places to start your work experience. There’s no harm in trying— the earlier you start, the better chance you have at knowing what you want to do after high school. This may be the perfect opportunity for you to succeed in your future. Remember to act courageously; be respectful, responsible, and community-minded— good luck Monarchs!
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