There are many part time jobs in Norton and Wise, Virginia available to students age 16 and over. However, the work hours and pay are limited. When one applies for a job at a business and is still attending high school, most businesses require that these students be released from work by 10 P.M., so they may be home before 11 P.M. Three JIB students by the names of Robert Leonard, Dakota Messer, and John Denham were all asked to provide information on their part time jobs. Part-time jobs are an important experience for high school students and are essential to any student who wishes to work and earn money for themselves.
A senior named Robert Leonard, who is 18 years of age, works part-time at Mr. Gatti's. When he was asked about his job, he said that there are four high school students who work there, and they are between the ages 16-18. The work that employees do at Mr. Gatti's involves washing the dishes, cleaning, making and providing pizza, and providing tickets in the game room. Student employees are payed $7.25 an hour (the current minimum wage).
Another student, 17 year old senior Dakota Messer works at Ingles as a part-time employee. When asked of the age requirements, his response was that you must at least be 16 years of age to work at Ingles. He was also asked about the pay and he said that most high school students are payed minimum wage at Ingles as well. Most of the jobs available at Ingles include service clerk, cashier, and stocker. As of right now, only 3 high school students work at Ingles.
John Denham, a junior at J.I. Burton high school, has worked at McDonald's in Norton, Virginia and also had similar responses as well. He was limited to five hours a day and only made the minimum wage. He stated that while he was employed there that he was the only high school student who worked there. He was supposed to be home by 11 P.M. on school nights and his job consisted of working the grill. He also spoke of the jobs that they provide. He said that the only ones were the grill, the patty station (which is where the burgers are made), the register, and cleaning the floors/tables. He was 16 when he worked there and said that is the minimum age requirement.
Although these people worked in different places, the pay and hours are all extremely similar.. Most high school students usually work after to school to help pay for transportation expenses, once they begin driving. Although it may not seem to be a big sum of money, part-time employment is beneficial for a high school student because it is a starting point for being involved in the work force. It is an important step to learn responsibility and to learn how to save money and balance a checkbook. All of these skills are very important in life, regardless of whether college is a planned part of one's future.
Written by: Jailen Bailey