By Melissa Brisco
Staff Writer

For high schoolers, there are many things that fight for their time and attention. For some students like senior Caroline Kaifes, the addition of an afternoon job is not an option, for others, like senior Ashley Faragher, an afternoon job is crucial.

Each student is faced with different obstacles, involved in different groups and has to balance different schedules.

Kaifes’ parents do not want her to have a job and with her busy schedule, it works out for the best. However, Faragher has had a job since she was 15 and pays many of her expenses.

These two seniors lead very different lives and face different challenges as a result of their decisions.

Kaifes fills her time with classes at the high school, volunteering through senior leadership corps at Hearthstone assisted living in Lewisville for roughly four hours a week and through Ready, Set, Teach! at Denton Creek Elementary, helping around the house with her daily chores and until this year being on the CHS softball team.

“I haven’t had a job yet, because my parents believe that school is the most important thing and I need to work hard in school and not worry about other distractions,” Kaifes said.

The decision for Kaifes not to have a job was decided mainly by her parents; however she has realized that this move was best for her. Kaifes is not worried about competition for a job with others who have previously held jobs. She plans to get jobs during the summer when she is not in school.

            Faragher begins her day with first period honor band. She is in the senior scholars program, so she spends the rest of her day at North Lake College North and Main campuses. After her school day is over she goes to one of her jobs at either CiCi’s Pizza or as a swim instructor at Coppell Aquatic and Recreation Center.

            “I have two jobs mainly to support myself,” Faragher said. “I’m very independent and I have to pay for a lot of my own things and having two jobs helps the money keep coming in.”

            Faragher pays her band bills, gas and insurance for her car, all of her clothes and any leisure. Although having two jobs hasn’t been easy, Faragher credits a good part of her maturity to her jobs.

“Having two jobs has definitely helped me with my responsibility, it’s been difficult, but it’s taught me life skills and prepared me for the real world and my dad likes it,” Faragher said.”

            Faragher’s parents encouraged her to get a job at an early age, and are proud of her responsibility.

            “Having a job through high school has helped Ashley mature and understand how responsibility and money works,” Ashely’s father Alan Faragher said. “It has prepared her for the rest of her life.”

The bills will not stop coming once Faragher transfers to a University of North Texas next fall, as a result, she will continue to work                                                                          

“I am absolutely going to work in college; I want some play money, and I still have to help with the bills so I’m going to try to keep one of my jobs,” Faragher said.

Some students acquire for after school jobs to round out their resumes, while other students, such as Kaifes, do not get jobs in order to make sure that they maintain their grades to protect their resumes.

“Having a job can either hurt or help a resume,” CHS counselor John Crook said. “Jobs are a plus in the application process, unless a students’ grades are dropping, in which case, the benefits do not outweigh the cost. Colleges, like to see that students are able to budget their time.”