My parents are two of the hardest workers I know. They did whatever it took to support my family as I was growing up. That meant having multiple jobs at times and sacrificing time with family and friends. Their work ethic was instilled in me from the beginning. I had a job as early as middle school helping them clean an office building each week, babysitting, and helping my dad make bookmarks for his job. Then I got my first “real” job during my freshman year of high school at Baskin Robbins. I learned so much throughout the 2 years that I worked there. I learned how to work with non-believers and people with different personalities, the responsibility of being to work on time and doing what was asked of me, integrity, how to share my faith with other employees, balancing a work schedule with homework, how to earn money to pay for things I wanted, how to take constructive criticism, and when to say no (I realized I was eating too much “leftover” milkshakes as they were being made). I do not think I would have learned those things as quickly if I did not have a job at an early age. After my time at Baskin Robbins, I went on to other jobs throughout the rest of high school and college.
I do not want to try and convince you that all kids should have a job throughout high school and college. However, I would not be the same person I am today if I had not had a job. It seems more and more kids do not have a paying job until they come work at camp or get out of college. Where are they learning those qualities? Where are they learning about responsibility and the value of working hard? If you prefer your child not work, what are ways you can teach your children those valuable traits and lessons?
School is a great place to learn how to interact with others and how to balance schedules and homework. But what about earning money, managing money, having a bank account? It was such a great feeling to buy something I wanted knowing I worked hard for that money. It helped me to respect the things I had. I would encourage you to think about the value of having a job at a young age and if that would benefit your child.
Assistant Director, Camp Crestridge