As students at Fairview, we’ve always been told that school is our job. But is that really the case? Fairview is an academically rigorous school and many students spend hours working on homework and extracurriculars outside of school. This leaves most students with minimal time to look for a job, let alone work one. 

It doesn’t come as a surprise that maintaining a healthy balance becomes more difficult when students begin to work, but it becomes more appealing as a way to earn money. 

Numerous students have mentioned that they work as a way to earn more spending money to satisfy daily needs as well as superfluous spending. 

“I need a job because my coffee addiction isn’t making me any money, and I’m going to have to start walking to school if I can’t pay for gas,” said Amelie Moody (11). 

“I’m looking for a job because I need to make money to pay for my gas because I drive all my friends around,” said Irene McCalmon (11). 

“My mom told me she was not going to pay for things anymore, so I had to get into action,” said Quinn Bleichman (11). 

Although summer jobs are in high demand for many students as a way to make money, most students who have a job during the school year find it hard to make time for school. One reason to work is “to pay for college,” said Eliza Fry (11). This makes it challenging for students because they are working to be able to attend college, but sacrificing their education to work. So how do busy students find an equilibrium between work and school life? 

Some Fairview students find it easiest to work a lot during the summer and then slow down during the school year. 

“I work five [days during the summer] and then during the school year I work two,” said Flora Albert (11). This way students can keep their jobs but still stay on top of homework. Overall, most students find it too difficult to maintain their grades while working. 

Hannah Kim (12) said that homework is the reason she is “usually limited to [one shift a week].” This leads students to question if the academic workload is too heavy at Fairview. Teachers at Fairview sometimes don’t even realize the amount of work students are given. 

“We generally try to keep [homework] to less than an hour, but I guess I never even thought of that… homework does fight for a job,” said math teacher Glenn Johnson. Considering that the average student at Fairview has six classes, students could be receiving up to six hours of homework a day. On top of this, most students take advanced classes. Almost every student takes at least one advanced class, with many taking up to four. 

“I’m taking four advanced classes this year,” said Charlotte Greenberg (11). 

Nico Youngren said that students at Fairview “take on a huge workload to where [it would probably] be hard to manage a job and their academics.” 

Should Fairview lessen the workload to allow students to have jobs? 

If you are looking for a job, business teacher Michael Mowen offers this advice: 

“The biggest thing you can do is if you have any connections.” 

Many students agree, saying that the job search can be difficult. 

“Sometimes it’s pretty hard [to find a job] because if you don’t have connections, it can be hard to get involved,” said Anderson Brown (11). 

“It’s been sort of frustrating because a lot of businesses haven’t gotten back to me after I’ve submitted applications,” said Nate Murray (11). 

Students at Fairview have busy schedules, whether it’s work or extracurriculars, setting them up for success in higher education and the professional world. 

The job search can certainly be daunting, but getting involved tends to pay off. For any students looking for a job, reach out to your peers or those in your community!