As this new school year begins and students begin to picture themselves one grade higher, the feeling that many need to gain more responsibilities and increase their independence becomes inescapable. There are no better ways to gain that sense of self-sufficiency than by finding work and starting a regular job. Seminole junior Jordin Rosser, like many others, looks forward to being able to pay for gas and other essentials herself.

Of course, as a busy Seminole student, one will need to carefully select his field of employment—only some jobs can work around a student’s already-busy schedule of academics and extracurricular activities. Let’s begin by examining some common jobs for teenagers, and how they can be worked into the school day.

Many teenagers go the route of cashier in either retail, fast food, or grocery stores. Requiring little experience, and easily fit into an academic schedule, this is a great option for any Nole looking for employment. Other popular options include working as a waiter, bus person, or host in a restaurant. These positions, which can be part-time during the year, and full-time during the summer, are excellent choices for high school students.

Another route to take is that of an unpaid intern or volunteer. As volunteers, students can not only benefit from the community service hours awarded, but also from the experiences one can gain from volunteer work. Central Florida Zoo volunteer and Seminole sophomore Kristine Purdy says, “I have a lot of good memories from the zoo, so I like knowing I’m giving back to it.”

Additionally, as interns, students can gain a first-hand understanding of a prospective adult career, and can learn much more about many academic fields that they may already be studying in school. Freshman Andrew Kwon says that having experience in a job in high school will be far superior to being thrust into the workplace after college.

This experience, indispensable in today and tomorrow’s job markets, is certainly a valuable asset to cultivate for any high school student. Volunteer or paid, there’s a panoply of options for students to take as summer jobs.