Wake up, cram before school, go to school, do unfinished homework for math during chemistry, sleep during history because we’re watching a movie, go to basketball practice, speed to work, do some homework, go to bed, then wake up again five hours later.

It is not uncommon to find high school students involved in multiple extracurricular activities and college credit classes, while working a part-time job. If a student chooses to work during high school, they sacrifice experiences, their health and potential life-long relationships.

“Work cuts into family time, opportunities to be involved in school and into time to study. Kids have their entire lives to work and make money, what is the rush to get started,” social studies teacher Chris McAfee said.

Unless a person continues their activity through college, high school is the only time someone will ever be a part of a football team, marching band, musical, choir or dance team. These once-in-a-lifetime experiences should not be sacrificed or neglected because a student is scheduled to work.

As a student, I witness my peers coming to class dragging their feet with bags under their eyes, barely able to stay awake for the whole period. Many of these students work a part-time job, and, most of the time, are also a part of an after-school activity.

I, myself, do not work during the school year and most times I find myself going to bed around 10 o’clock at night. Then, in class, I hear my peers talking about how they didn’t get home from work until 11:00 and finishing homework until 1:00 in the morning. Because these students hold down a job, they are sacrificing their overall health and losing focus of their studies.

Not only do students sacrifice academic time, but they sacrifice time to just be a high school kid. They miss time to hang out with friends, go on a date or go to the Friday night game. These are all memories that should be made during high school. After college, we work for the rest of our lives and high school is a time to find what you like, who your friends are, and grow as a person.

My dad worked in high school, everyday from the time school got out, until close. Yes, he did acquire an excellent work ethic, but instead, I believe he would have had a greater experience if he established a group of friends that he could stay in touch with the rest of his life.

However, some students must work because their family is struggling financially. For those students, I have a large amount of respect. When a high school student makes money and takes responsibility for part of their family income, it displays an enormous amount of maturity.

For the students whose families are not struggling, they should focus on the four precious years in front of them instead of managing a work schedule.

“You only get one high school experience, one time to participate in activities with friends, one opportunity for social time with friends, hopefully only one time to live under your parent’s basement and enjoy family time. I think kids and families should value this time and the opportunities/experiences it provides and not rush towards the next stage of life,” McAfee said.