With the homework load piling up and the 2nd trimester of the 2021-22 school year in full swing, it can be challenging for students to find the time to participate in activities outside of school. Maintaining a healthy social life and balancing school work is hard enough. Yet some Urban students have added another activity to their plate: a job.
Why would Urban students make their lives even busier? Tristan Arnovick ‘23, who works at Hook Fish, a seafood restaurant, said, “I felt it was a different level of independence to have [my] own job and income, and that was appealing to me.” Arnovick started working around summer and enjoys working with his many friends.
Similarly, Miles Palmer ‘23, a worker at Shaws, a candy and ice cream store in West Portal, wanted the independence of making his own money.“I wanted to have money that I was making so I can feel better about spending money socially and it’s just a good experience for later in life,” said Palmer.
Palmer Dean ‘22, who sells pastries in the Ferry Building, hopes that her job will help with time ahead, including a trip that she plans on taking this summer. “Without my parents with me, I want to have my own money and I’m saving for that trip.”
Amelia Hayward ’23, a Planet Granite climbing instructor, is looking towards the future generation. “I just want to help out with the next generation of climbers.” Hayward works with six year olds which can be challenging but also rewarding. She said, “It’s taught me to have a lot of patience.”
Student athletes, like Palmer who plays on the Varsity Soccer team, can find themselves overwhelmed by their hectic schedules. “With soccer after school every day plus an intense course load, homework can be kind of annoying to have to do on a Sunday night,” said Palmer. “Sometimes I have to make sacrifices but I try to balance it out and make a schedule that works.”
Arnovick finds joy in being occupied. “I really like having a lot of different things going on and it makes me feel like I have more structure in my life,” he said. Especially during midterms and finals, even without the added pressure of a job, students feel stressed.
“I would probably just be doing homework anyway if I didn’t have my job,” said Hayward. “I try to plan ahead but sometimes it comes down to cramming the night before.” As challenging as being a student with a job can be, there are a lot of lessons to be learned.
Bayview Hunters Point Center for Arts & Technology (BAYCAT) intern Isaiah Moliga-Puletasi ‘24, shared the lessons his job has taught him about trying new things. “Being a media creator is not something I would have usually done and I enjoyed being pushed outside of my comfort zone,” said Moliga-Puletasi.
“I feel I have gained a lot of confidence through my job. Working in a high stakes, fast environment makes you have to do everything with confidence,” said Rylan Waterman ‘23, an employee at Hinoya Curry SF. “That’s definitely helped me outside of work in my school and social life.”
“Treat people that are working more kindly. Sometimes customers can be really rude and not treat you as a human when you’re working on the other side of a restaurant or farmers market, cafe or store.” said Dean. “Minimum wage jobs can also be really grueling, so appreciate people that do minimum wage jobs or blue collar jobs.”