For many high school students, the school day doesn’t end when the final bell rings. Instead, it’s often followed by several hours on the job. As more students take on part-time work after school or on weekends, they are learning how to balance responsibilities while managing stress.

High school students across the community are working part-time jobs at local businesses, fitting shifts into evenings and weekends. Many say the main reason they work is to earn their own spending money and gain experience, but the challenge comes in making sure work does not interfere with school.

Dylan Hirschi, a student who works at Broulim’s, said he keeps his schedule manageable. “I work 9 hours a week. It hasn’t really affected my grades at all,” Hirschi said. “I just wanted to make some money and have something to do after school.”

Hirschi said the most difficult part of balancing school and work isn’t homework or shifts, but finding time for everything else. “Hardest part of balancing both is finding time to do things outside of school,” he said.

Other students take a lighter approach to their work schedules to avoid stress. Brock Erickson, who works at Subway, limits his hours to just one shift each week.

“I work one day a week, on Sundays,” Erickson said. “Work hasn’t affected my grades. I feel like I’m pretty good at balancing both where I only work one day.”

For Erickson, the main motivation for having a job is simple. “I need money really bad, so that’s why I work,” he said.

Although working during the school year can add extra pressure, many students say careful scheduling helps them stay on top of both schoolwork and their jobs. By limiting their hours and prioritizing school responsibilities, they are able to gain work experience while still keeping their grades on track.

For students like Hirschi and Erickson, having a job is not just about earning money—it’s also about learning responsibility and time management, skills that may help them long after high school.