Having a Job: The Pros and Cons

By: Sabrina Hirani

During this time of year, Redwood students are getting more jobs due to all the free time that is on their shoulders. With having a job, there are many pros and cons that come along with it.

Amanda Dominguez, ‘21 works at the Sequoia Regional Cancer Center in Visalia. She works as a receptionist in the billing department. Her job is to answer phone calls, verify insurances, assist with insurance claims, and make patient charts for the doctors. Dominguez says, “I have a job because I wanted to gain some real-world work experience and I was given an amazing opportunity to do so at the facility.”

Some pros Dominguez points out is how she enjoys the schedule. “I enjoy the schedule because I feel very secluded from the world staying at home, but when I am at work I feel that I am providing some kind of comfort and joy to the patients I am able to assist.”

Dominguez also states a con which is how this job can be overwhelming with school work, but has managed it just fine now. 

Kylie Maurice, ‘22 currently works at Dutch Bros which just opened on Mooney. She works as a barista which consists of making drinks, talking to customers, and taking orders.

Maurice talks about how she wanted the job so she can make some money while we don’t have school physically.

Maurice also talks about the things she likes about having a job, “It’s nice to have my own money and to start saving up!”

She explains how she loves all her new friends and how everyone is so caring and kind at her job. Maurice also has been learning new lessons from her job, “I’m learning how to manage my time while learning about taxes and everything like that.

Maurice also states a con about having a job as a barista. Maurice says, “The only thing that I don’t like about having my job is that sometimes I have a shift at 4:45 in the morning because I work at a place that sells coffee.”

Brianna Loera, ‘22 works at Cold Stone Creamery and Hollister. At Cold Stone, she scoops ice cream, makes cakes, cleans anything in the store, manages the register, and practices a lot of customer service.

At Hollister, Loera folds clothes, manages the register, and interacts with customers. Loera talks about how she enjoys working because she is a very social person, but COVID-19 has made that hard for her. Having a job was the easiest way for Loera to get out of the house, make new friends, and talk to new people.

“Having a job allows me to be and feel productive,” says Lorea.

Lorea also talks about the many new things she learned from having a job, “I have made so many friends and have gained so many life skills. My social skills and time management skills have advanced ever since I started working.”

Loera also says how she enjoys feeling independent and not having to ask her parents for things since she can now afford to get stuff on her own. One con Loera states is how she doesn’t have free time like she used to have, but she loves having a job and recommends high school students to get one. 

Kelsey Myers, ‘21 currently works at Hollister. At Hollister, she organizes clothing, and talks to customers trying to help them in any way possible. Myers says, “I’m trying to save up money for college and hopefully build it enough to be on my own eventually.”

Some of the pros Myers says about having a job is how it is easy to get money and save up for college or other necessities, but she also says how she enjoys the environment and her coworkers at Hollister.

Myers continues to say however, “it’s difficult giving up weekends because that’s usually when I’m free because I’m also busy with school.” Some advice Myers gives to high school students looking for a job is how she doesn’t recommend working at fast food places because it is “horrible.” 

Tags: jobs, Pros and Cons, redwood rangers