Balancing

Work & School

We have many students who have already joined the workforce while completing the requirements of high school. These dedicated and energetic young men and women are on their way to success and make us proud every year.

Now, let's see why they DO what they do!

Katelyn Stephens, Senior

Katelyn Stephens is a senior who has worked at Chili's Bar & Grill for about a year and a half now. She began working to help her parents afford things they needed but gradually began saving to put herself through college.

Katelyn does not have to modify her school schedule to fit with her job since she puts school first and has a half day of senior release, which helps her get more hours of working time.

The positive side of working while in school is you can afford what you need such as school supplies and lunches. However there's always a negative side to everything, which includes the stress of balancing both work and school. She said that she enjoys her job whenever she is not getting yelled at the by customers.

"I manage juggling a job and school because of my time management skills and I rarely have homework. Chili's has prepared me for my future by allowing me to show loyalty and dedication to something for a long period of time."- Katelyn

Kathryn Stephens - Senior

Kathryn is another worker at our local Chili's restaurant and has been there for approximately five months now. She's like many other students and began working while in high school to bring in extra funds for herself and to help take the stress off her parents.

"Everything is so expensive now and we all can use extra cash, especially for our senior year," Kathryn said. "It was nice to have spending money on the choir trips we took this year."

"I'm tired a lot but it's rewarding when we all balance our classes with our work schedules."-Kathryn

Madison Ellis, Junior

Madison Ellis is a junior who has been working at Chili's Bar & Grill for about two months. She began working because she loves the feeling of making her own money.

"I've not had to modify my classes much since I began working but I've had to call in a few times since an event at school required me to be there, so I've asked my managers to schedule me after 5pm as much as possible," Madison said.

"A positive aspect of working/making money while in school is you can pay for expenses such as prom and homecoming and you can help your parents out financially. The negative side deals with missing all of the games or fun events that I've always attended. I sleep as much as possible in order to make working while in school a successful part of my life. I know it will help me with my future and yes, I love my job!"- Madison

Zakaveion Freeman - Senior

Zakaveion Freeman is a senior who has been working at Dot's Ace Hardware for about three months. He got a job to provide for himself and to feel less like a burden to his family. He modifies his work schedule to fit his school schedule by making sure he isn't required to be on the clock until his classes are done for the day.

"A positive side to having a job while in school is it helps me keep my mind off of things that normally would bother me. I do miss my abundance of free time however. Acquiring customer service skills and learning information about this particular business will help me with my future job."-Zakaveion

Peyton Page - Senior

Peyton is a senior who has been working at Albertsons for about a year and he wanted a job to make money, for the most part. He heads to work once his classes are over each day and the most positive aspect of working? Money of course!

"I can't think of any negative side to working while attending high school. I know this job and all that comes with it will help me in life."-Peyton

Tatum McCord - Junior

Tatum McCord is a junior who's been working at Raising Cane's since October began working to save up for life after school. Tatum lets her boss know which days she can and can't work and the positive aspect to working is having money to do the things she wants to do. A negative side? she goes to bed late after working the late shift and that is pretty much the only down side to working after school most everyday.

"This job has given me the confidence I need to succeed in life after high school- I believe it's helped me already."- Tatum

Hallie Wilson - Senior

Hallie Wilson is a senior and has worked at Walk-Ons for over two years now. She got this job to help her mom out financially and to be able to take care of herself. Hallie gets out of school with senior release and takes a lot of naps in order to balance a job and her school requirements. The positive side of working is making money and building her a good work ethic. The negative side? She's always tired but she enjoys her job.

"I try to keep my work and school as separate as possible and stay caught up with both. I know this part-time job has shown me a lot about my future (as it pertains to the world of work). - Hallie

Hannah Cockrell - Senior

Hannah Cockrell is a senior who has worked at Walk-Ons since the beginning of her junior year. Hannah didn't want to ask her parents for money so she decided to get a job. The need for sleep is always there but she seems to manage it well for the most part but being tired is one negative aspect to working while in high school.

"I like making my own money and I enjoy my job --depending upon the day. Working in a sports restaurant like Walk-Ons can be stressful but I have learned a good work ethic, customer service and how to deal with people. I have two days off a week to do laundry and clean and make sure I'm prepared for the rest of the week."- Hannah

Isabella Roach - Junior

Isabella has been employed with Dixie Diner in Nash for over eight months now and she enjoys her job a lot. Bella puts her school work first and modifies her schedule at the diner accordingly.

The positive side to working this job is acquiring the necessary people skills needed to succeed in life after high school. "Working in a restaurant forces a person to develop a better way of communication with customers. It's not always easy and somedays it can be very challenging, but it's achievable," Bella said.

This job has forced her to be more organized since it is up to her to get everything done in the course of her day, week, etc.

"Being a server has taught me a few things over the past few months.

1. A smile can go a long way so stay positive.

2. Customers can be mean at times but that's just part of the territory.

3. Always tip!"- Bella

**Bella not only works at Dixie Diner, she stays pretty busy with the following employment opportunities:

Works in the summer for Holiday Springs Water Park (lifeguard)
Babysitting
Dog sitting
Usher at the Perot Theater/downtown
Photographer
In the mentor program at Texarkana Gazette
house sitting

Dejanae Dollarhide - Senior

Dejanae Dollarhide is a senior who has worked at Red Lobster for the last 3-4 months and like most everyone else, she wanted spending money of her own so she decided to enter the world of work. Her classes are over each day at noon which allows her to take on more hours than most high school students.

"I enjoy the socializing aspect of a job and learning responsibility is another positive side to working. The days sometimes are long and I stay tired a lot but that's just part of the balancing act. My time at Red Lobster has definitely prepared me for life after school and I do enjoy my job."- Dejanae

Jessica Tharp/ Junior

Jessica Tharp is a junior who has worked at The Piercing Room for the last eight months and she got the job to teach her a skill she plans on using in the future. The positive side of working is she has something to look forward to during the week and the negative is that she doesn't get the normal two-day weekends like most people. Sundays are her only days off from work and school but she is fine with it.

"I love my job and I know it will definitely help me in the future."- Jessica

Cathia Vargas - Junior

Cathia is a junior has been working at Big Jakes on Richmond Rd for about two months now. She initially got a job to save money in general but now, her income helps pay for her school trips and expenses.

How does she balance school with a job? " I always make sure my boss knows when I can and can't work since I am still in high school. If I have homework, I try to do it before or after work," Cathia said.

A positive side to working while in school? "I am always busy- no room for getting bored at this point in my life. I do get tired at times but so is everyone else who's my age. I definitely have learned to manage my time wisely since I started this job."- Cathia

Cameron (Wade) Kelley - Junior

Cameron (also known as Wade) has worked at Dixie Diner for approximately five months and he mainly wanted a job for the money but realizes it also gives him the freedom to do more.

Like all the other students who choose to work while in school, Cameron has learned to juggle his classes with a job.

"I do my work at school and at the diner. I guess I just live day by day and it seems to work. My grades don't define me but my work ethic does."- Wade

Jaksun Phelps - Senior

Jaksun has worked for Chicken Express on the Arkansas side for about a year and 1/2 now. Like most other students who decided to enter the world of work, Jaksun applied for his first job so he could have money. He makes sure to keep his classes and school work in check so he can continue to work each week.

"I don't see anything negative about my working while in high school and I plan on using the skills I've learned to help me succeed in life."- Jaksun

Yasmin Simon - Sophomore

Yasmin has been working at Dunkin' Donuts in Nash, Texas for approximately four months now and she enjoys her time on the clock with the company.

"I can buy my own stuff now that I'm making money but it can get tiring somedays. They usually put me on the schedule in the afternoons, once I am done with my classes on campus. In order to juggle a job with high school requirements, a person will need to stay focused on what's important. I've learned to interact with the public while employed with Dunkin' Donuts and hopefully those skills will follow me as my career continues."-Yasmin

Ronnie Galloway - Sophomore

RJ has worked for Cavender's for about three months and money was the main reason for seeking employment while still in school. Balancing school with work takes a lot of effort but he seems to enjoy it.

"I'm involved in band so that takes up a big portion of my time but this semester is not as busy and I figured I would give a job a try.

For the most part, I do enjoy working. Cavender's is considered a clothing/merchandise establishment and I figured it would be difficult learning their requirements for work but it wasn't hard at all. It's not as hectic as a fast food place but customers can still be hard to deal with. I am learning a lot at my job and making money at the same time. It's a win, win."-RJ

Aubryana Henderson - Senior

Aubryana has been employed with Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers for two years now and she sought a job to provide for herself. She's learned to modify her job schedule since she is has always been involved in multiple school activities.

"Having a job has definitely helped me with social and communication skills and yes, I do enjoy my job. I believe it's helped me get more used to the workforce and all that goes with life after school. It can be difficult at times to balance school with my work shifts but it all seems to work out each week."- Aubryana

Sydney Bryer - Junior

Eden (Sydney) Bryer has been working at Los Ruvalcaba since October of 2022. She decided to work to take up her extra free time by making money to save or help take care of herself. Eden's work schedule accommodates her classes at school and one positive side of working is her ability to to learn and work while making money.

"It's a challenge to find time for yourself once you work while still in high school but I do love my job. I make sure I get enough sleep, which helps me deal with everything each week. This job has helped me with my future since I have learned better communication skills while employed with Los Ruvalcaba." - Sydney

Xander Stewart - Senior

Xander Stewart has been working at Garry's Gadgets for about three years now and he had applied for the job so he could pay for gas and food.

He gets out of school at noon and sometimes skips lunch so he can get to work sooner. "I have to say one negative side about working while attending school is not having the energy to do much of anything else. I'm at school by eight and out at noon and then it's off to work. I am ready for the future, especially since this is my dad's business."-Xander

Michael Walker - Senior

Michael has been working at the 7th Street location of Albertsons for almost a year now and decided to get a part-time because he got tired of asking his parents for money. He also understood it's never too early to begin saving for life/college. He doesn't play sports anymore so he gets out of school around 2:00. He seems to manage his job and school since he gets out of school at a decent time and doesn't get off too late.

Michael's shifts begin around 3:30pm so he usually gets food before clocking in. One positive aspect of working and attending school is showing you can maintain more than one thing at a time. A negative side is trying to make time with friends and family. "I do enjoy this job and it's helped me prepare for my future."- Michael

Aleesha Wooten - Senior

Aleesha has worked for Shoe Dept. for two years and originally wanted this job because her parents wanted her to pay her own bills like: car insurance, gas, etc.

She had to change some her classes around in order to leave school at 12:00 and she manages school and work by putting school as her top priority and her job as her second.

"The positive side of juggling school with a job is the memories I have made with my coworkers who seem like family. The negative is never having enough free time. I enjoy working and it has definitely helped me with time management."- Aleesha

Markaidon Holt - Junior

Markaidon Holt decided to enter the world of work in March of this year and landed a job at our local T.J. Maxx department store.

"I wanted a job for the same reason everyone else seeks employment....to make money. Working here has been a positive thing even though I get home late some nights. My shifts usually begin around 5:30pm, which gives me time to study if needed and school is definitely a priority for me. Working each week helps me to practice what I will do in the real world someday."- Markaidon

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