Can Teens Manage Their Schoolwork and Keep a Part-Time Job?

How can you balance your schoolwork with a part-time job?

For many teens, getting a job is as important as getting an education. "I need a job for the money and experience," says one teen. It's hard to dispute that having a part-time job has its benefits. But does having a part-time job jeopardize students' potential for success in school?

For 17-year-old McMath student, Spozhmi, the answer is "no." Spozhmi works part-time at a major supermarket in Richmond. "I have two, four-hour shifts a week," says Spozhmi who has been employed for nearly a year. Contrary to what you might be thinking, getting a job has helped her prioritize better and procrastinate less. "My marks have actually gone up since I started working."

As one can imagine, having a part-time job and going to school requires a fair amount of schedule juggling. Each week, Spozhmi meets with a tutor who helps her stay on top of things, allowing her to find time for life outside of work and school. So why does Spozhmi continue to work with all of the time-management restraints? "In the long run, the people I've met, the experiences I've gained and the money I've made are so rewarding that I would never choose to quit."

However, for some teens, handling school and work does not reap as many benefits as it does for Spozhmi. Seventeen-year-old Ilya has been working at an electronics store since last November, working 18 to 25 hours each week during the school year. Ever since he started working, Ilya has noticed a drop in his school marks, which he believes is not necessarily a result of the stress, but of what he describes as, "coming home too tired to study."

Now in grade 12, Ilya plans to continue working but hopes to make things more manageable by reducing his hours and taking mainly weekend shifts; and according to McMath Secondary counsellor, Marie Ratcliffe, Ilya's new approach is a good one. "When things go wrong, it's usually because of the number of hours a young person is working. Lengthy closing shifts - when a student has to close up a business after 10 or 11 o'clock at night - really can have a negative impact on adolescent health and school success," explains Ratcliffe. She further advises that students take a job with flexible hours and that is close to home during the school year.

So what does Ratcliffe think is the best way to determine whether you will land in the same boat as Spozhmi or Ilya? "Self-awareness is the best way to assess [whether you can handle work and school]," she says. In the end, you are the one that knows your own schedule and time management best, and only you can decide whether you will be able to handle a job while going to school.