When the school day ends, the majority of the Coppell High School student body has one thought in mind: I can’t wait until I get home. So while most students run to catch the bus, phone in hand, some walk to their next stop: work.
“Art is something I’m very passionate about, but it’s not something I’m able to focus on in school. So, in order to hone in on that focus of mine, I’ve been working,” sophomore Ananya Ram said.
Ram works part-time at an art studio where she helps students develop their art skills.
“Working kind of helps me focus,” Ram said.
Maintaining a job serves as an outlet for students to develop passions they otherwise do not have time for.
As more students start working part-time, they are becoming increasingly aware of their financial habits and responsibility for the money that they earn.
Despite the benefits, increased academic commitments suggests students do not have the time to work. And while doing so may be difficult, the numbers are steadily rising: 59.5% of American youth have a job or are looking for one.
This number, while not fully representative of CHS, points toward a good number of students who are aware of and showing interest in working part-time.
Though not all students work for creative freedom, a benefit is learning to manage finances that come with earning at a young age.
“I come from a household where being financially responsible is a very large part of our morals, beliefs and culture,” sophomore Saadhvi Thatipally said. “It’s kind of embedded into how I grew up and how my family grew up.”
Thatipally works part-time at a learning center, giving kids personalized one-on-one tutoring catered to their academic needs.
Cultural values prompted Thatipally to start working and being responsible for her own money. Working part-time was an opportunity to learn key financial skills that she could apply later in life.
“Working a job gives you a lot of independence, knowing that you have these funds that you made yourself,” Ram said.
Earning does not stop at independence. It influences the general outlook on spending and saving.
“When it comes to saving money, it’s important to take into account how much work went in,” Thatipally said. “If you’re going to make any kind of purchase, I think you should really think about how many hours of work you have to commit to earn the money to pay for that in the first place.”
Students are also using this as an opportunity to learn and get better at financial planning.
“I don’t really touch my money,” Ram said, “I’m mostly saving, and I also put it into a savings account that does have some interest. It’s something I’ve learned.”
While financial awareness can be rooted in something as small as a student saving 50% of their last paycheck, it can motivate teenagers to think about how they can save academically as well.
Senior Suzy Waly decided to stay at CHS for this year despite earning all of her credits for graduation the year prior.
“I was trying to figure out what the best way to save money for my parents is, since they originally offered to pay for college for me,” Waly said, “Dual credit really brings down the costs.”
Waly is on track to receive her associate’s degree prior to graduating high school, a financial move that could potentially save her thousands of dollars in tuition.
Building better money habits can lead to a well-thought future. To instill those money habits in students, Money Matters teacher Raneta Ansley suggests that the first step is being aware of how much is being spent.
“If you’re just aware of your spending habits, then you have to prioritize what’s important to you, and then you can assess how you’re going to spend your money,” she said.
Part-time jobs among high school students can shape the mindset to save for long-term goals and priorities.
“Now’s the time to start thinking about your finances in your future,” Ansley said. “Don’t wait until you’re already in debt and all that to learn it the hard way. Realize it up front and prevent it from happening.”
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