By: Sarah Sheafer <[email protected]>

As sophomore Sara Fam gathered the extra line on her rescue tube so that it wouldn’t catch on the chair, she scanned the pool. Children were splashing and playing, and it was her duty to make sure they were safe and to rescue them if they ever needed help.

Fam is a lifeguard. She works weekends during the school year and plans to spend almost every day in the summer on the job.

“One of my sisters told me about the job so I thought, why not?” Fam said. “It’s a great way to make friends and I get my own money.”

About this time of every year, students are planning ahead on what job opportunities they have in the summer. Some, like Fam, plan to work as a lifeguard and others may explore the possibility of babysitting or working in retail. Though, not all students will work in the summer, because of the amount of time and dedication a job consumes. However, students that choose to work may receive important career lessons. In a 2007 Junior Achievement national survey, working high school students identified the most important aspects a summer job offers. The top four responses were the responsibilty needed to perform a job successfully, how to demonstrate leadership, importance of teamwork and college.

Emily Westermeier, a pool manager at the Monon Center and senior said, “Summer jobs differ from school year jobs because students have a lot more time to focus and work at their job. They do not usually have the other obligations such as school, homework, school events, practices, etc. They can work more, make more money and hopefully truly enjoy the job they are working at.”

Sophomore Hannah Flores, who said she plans to work at Aéropostale during the summer, said that a job isn’t always suited for everyone. However, she said that a summer job is different than a job during the school year. “Since you have more time on your hands in the summer, you have the option of working during the day, so you can do stuff at night,” she said. “It’s a lot less stressful since you have nothing else going on.”

Not all students said that they had time for a job during the summer, however. Even though sophomore Brielle Peters, who currently babysits, said she plans to work throughout the summer as an assistant to a children’s physical therapist, she said that not getting a summer job is understandable. “I think it depends on your schedule. Some people have activities they’re doing or plans,” she said.

Flores said that even though she’s planning to hang out with friends, go on a vacation with her family and play summer league lacrosse in the summer, she is still able to dedicate enough time working. She plans to work over the weekend and some weekdays.

Students who wish to get a summer job but do not want to spend too much time working are still able to make money. One example of a job like this is babysitting. Peters said, “I think babysitting is a great job. You get to play with kids and you don’t even have to pay taxes.” She said that even though some employers might not be as lenient, babysitting allows someone to have a more flexible schedule.

Fam said that there are many benefits of having a summer job. “You get your own money and you don’t have to ask your parents for it,” she said. “It’s even a great way to make friends.”

Westermeier said that students should get a summer job. “It provides something for them to do. It is also a great experience and you are able to meet really cool people who then can turn into great friends,” she said.

Flores said, “I think everyone should try to get (a summer job).”