At Lebanon Trail High School, students partake in a wide range of employment endeavors. With a diverse array of part-time jobs, from retail and food service to internships and tech gigs, LT’s ambitious students gain real-world experiences while balancing academics. The students of Lebanon Trail are proving time and time again that success isn’t limited to the classroom.
“I work at a place called KidStrong, which provides classes for kids to work on fitness, motor skills, social skills, and activity.” Junior Sahana Meyyappan said. “Typically the kids who come in are disabled or have severe social anxiety.”
For some, their job is less about making money, it’s more about the chance to make a true difference in the lives of many.
“The most rewarding part of my job is making a kid laugh,” Meyyappan said. “A lot of these kids find it difficult to communicate, especially since many of them were born during COVID and didn’t get the normal peer interaction that children of that age require. Making a kid who usually hides behind their parents laugh makes me feel proud that I could be someone they felt safe with.”
Jobs can be fulfilling for students while also providing valuable insight into working with various types of people, gearing up for the workforce, and providing an overall deeper sense of fulfillment.
“I’m a tennis coach and my favorite part of my job is working with kids because it’s funny. They can be really fun to work with.” Junior Maika Wendt said.
As fun and fulfilling as a job can be, it can be taxing for a full-time student.
“I work every weekend for about 6 hours each day,” Meyyappan said.
Work-life balance is something many people struggle with. However, these students have found a way to make it work as they balance extracurriculars and academics with employment.
“Well, my job doesn’t last that long because kids can’t play for eight hours. I just do schoolwork afterward, it’s not that bad. I usually stay up pretty late to do my schoolwork and also use mega lunch to get things done. It’s just all about a balance,” Wendt said.
The students of LT have shown time and time again that not only is it possible to manage school while being employed, but the experiences that come with having a job contribute to teaching them valuable lessons about the real world.
