Students Balancing School and Work

During my junior year, I worked at Walmart for one year to earn additional income. I communicated regularly with my managers to coordinate my work schedule, ensuring it fit around my academic responsibilities. The money I earned allowed me to purchase essential items, such as school clothing.

Although balancing work and school left me with limited free time, I found the experience to be both rewarding and enjoyable. I learned to manage my time effectively by working fewer hours when necessary and dedicating my off days to homework and studying. Overall, this job taught me valuable skills in communication, time management, and responsibility.

I’ve been working at Blue Ember Smokehouse for about a year now. I work mainly because I enjoy having nice things, even if they come at a price. Balancing a job with playing baseball can be tricky, but I usually find a way to make it work each week. While the extra income is definitely a plus, it does come with trade-offs—my free time is limited, there’s some stress in juggling work and school, and I’ve had to miss a few special events. 

That said, I do enjoy my job, and it’s helped me become more organized and responsible, since I have to stay on top of everything. 

This summer has been both busy and rewarding. To earn extra income, I asked my boss to schedule me for shifts on Saturdays and Sundays. It feels good to be able to make money while continuing my education at the same time. Although I’m often sore after balancing both work and school, I stay motivated and push through. 

Working more hours now is helping me build stamina and prepare for longer shifts in the future. 

I’ve been working at Whataburger for over five months now because I wanted to start buying my own things. I finish school at 3:35, get home by 3:50, and usually work from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. most days. I like having my own money to spend on things I want and need.

One downside of working while in school is that I wish I could start my shifts earlier on weekdays. Still, I enjoy my job overall, and balancing school and work hasn’t been too difficult. I'm also gaining valuable skills that will help me in the future.

I’ve been working at Sonic for about a month now. I took the job to earn some money, and I really enjoy the fast pace of the work. The money I make and the coworkers I’ve met are both great. My schedule is pretty tight, but I manage by organizing my time carefully around work and school. 

Gaining more experience and earning money has definitely boosted my confidence. 

I started working because, like everyone, I need money, but I also recognize that gaining responsibility is a valuable benefit of working at a young age. I always make sure to inform my managers about any important dates when I’m unavailable, as balancing school commitments is a priority for me. One of the great things about working while attending school is earning money while pursuing an education. 

I really enjoy my job and have invested in a planner to stay organized. I feel ready to take on the challenges of the working world. 

I just started training at Albertsons and I got the job to make money for myself and to help out around the house a bit. I try to work on my days off and weekends to make the most of my schedule. One of the best parts is being able to buy things for myself. Although I don’t have a lot of free time, I’m managing so far by taking things one step at a time and doing what I can. 

This job is already helping me understand more about responsibility and time management. 

I’ve been working at McDonald’s for a year and a half, primarily to earn some spending money. My managers are aware that I’m a student and they create my schedule with that in consideration.

Working keeps me occupied after school, which is better than just sitting at home doing nothing. The downside is that I have very little free time. 

Overall, I enjoy my job at McDonald’s, and it’s helping me gain valuable experience as I prepare for the future—after all, most people work at some point in their lives.

I’ve been working at Dollar General for about two months now. I took the job mainly to earn money. While it can get busy, the biggest challenge is that some days I can’t make it to practice because of my work schedule. Other than that, there haven’t been many issues. I just have to make sure my manager doesn’t schedule me on days when I have other commitments. 

Overall, the experience has been positive and definitely worth it. 

I've been working two jobs for the past few months—starting at Dairy Queen while still employed at Cracker Barrel. I take both roles seriously and work hard at each, which has helped me feel more prepared for life after high school. My typical schedule includes weekday shifts from 5:30 PM to 10 PM and weekend shifts from 4 PM to 10 PM.

Earning my own money has allowed me to participate in more activities and even consider joining clubs. Of course, there are challenges—like feeling tired after school, needing a quick nap, and sometimes feeling irritated before heading into a shift—but I’ve learned to push through. 

Despite the difficulties, I enjoy both jobs and often remind myself that the effort I’m putting in now will pay off in the future.

I’ve been working at Olive Garden since May 2025, and like many people my age, I started working to have some financial independence. I always make sure to stay on top of my school assignments, even though I usually start my shifts at 5:30 PM and often help close the restaurant. Some nights I get home late and feel exhausted, and there are definitely days when going to work after a full day of school is tough. Even though the job can be tiring, I do enjoy it. I try to keep school as my top priority and treat work as secondary. 

Since starting this job, I’ve become more independent and confident—it’s helped me break out of my shell and prepared me for the future. 

I've been working at Journeys for a few months now. I took the job mainly to help support myself financially. I make sure to inform my employer ahead of time about any events I need to attend so they can adjust my schedule accordingly.

There are definitely some positives to working while still in high school. For one, the extra income is helpful. I've also improved my communication skills through interacting with coworkers and customers. One downside, though, is occasionally being late to work due to school events.

Overall, I really enjoy my job. My manager has been flexible with my school schedule, which has made balancing work and school much easier. I believe that having a job now is preparing me well for future responsibilities and opportunities.

I've been working at Taco Bell for over two months now, and the experience has been both challenging and rewarding. One of my main goals was to improve my financial situation, and I'm proud to say that I’ve managed to do that. Having extra pocket money has not only given me the freedom to buy the things I need and want, but it’s also given me a sense of independence and responsibility.

Balancing work with school was difficult at first—especially adjusting to a different sleep schedule—but I’ve found a rhythm. I typically work the first and last day of the week, as well as on weekends, which allows me to stay focused on school during the weekdays. Surprisingly, working has actually made me more organized. Since I have less free time, I’ve had to be more intentional about getting my homework done.

Beyond money and time management, my job has also helped me grow personally. I've learned a lot about how people react under pressure and how small issues can sometimes be blown out of proportion. These experiences have helped me develop more patience and better communication skills, both of which will benefit me in the future.

Overall, working at Taco Bell has been a valuable experience. It’s helped me grow financially, academically, and emotionally, and I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned so far.

I’ve been working at Cavender’s for over three months now, and I really enjoy having extra money—especially since I pay for my own gas. I usually work from 5 to 9 on most weekdays and also on weekends. One of the biggest perks of having a job is the extra spending money, but it also helps keep me productive and focused.

Of course, the downside is losing sleep. There are definitely days when, after a long day at school, I don’t feel like going to work—but in the end, I always manage to push through. To make things easier, I try to complete all my schoolwork during the day so I don’t have to worry about it after my shifts.

Overall, I really enjoy my job. It’s helped me come out of my shell and step outside of my comfort zone. I’ve gotten much better at talking to people, which has been a big change for me.

I’ve been working at Texas Roadhouse for about a month now, and I really enjoy having my own money to spend on the things I want or need. Adjusting to having a job while still in school hasn’t been too difficult, although I do find myself more tired these days. I constantly remind myself that school comes first. 

Overall, this job has been a great learning experience and has helped prepare me for life—Texas Roadhouse is truly a great place to work.