What is the main reason students work? Do they have wants? Do they have bills? Yes to all, it turns out. At the end of a long school day, these hard working students switch gears from Membean to McDonalds, from Delta Math to Dairy Queen, from Crash Courses to Kroger.
Most students work to pay for daily things like food, gas, and other wants. In Harrison, students work in many locations, as there are many different places throughout the surrounding areas.
There are students like senior Jack Stroud who works to pay for new parts for his truck and dirt bikes. This tracks with the results from our poll, which shows that a main reason students work is to pay for their vehicles, to pay for food, and to pay for hobbies. The data from our poll shows that 88% of students who have jobs work in food service. Food service job examples are servers, cooks, host/hostess, and other things involving food. One interviewee says they work 2 jobs, both in food service, not because of bills, but because they enjoy shopping and buying gifts for friends.
13% of students who work have jobs in retail instead of food services. Retail jobs are jobs at stores, such as Home Depot, Dunham’s, Kroger, and department stores and anywhere that sells merchandise. These jobs were much more popular in the 1990s-2000s, as this was when malls were big, but since malls have become almost obsolete and online shopping has taken over these have become much less popular. One student, senior Mason Richardson, says he enjoys his retail job, as it is simple and easy. He can have his headphones in and just stock shelves and unloads trucks. He says he works to buy more Airsoft gear.
The poll that was taken was a small sample size, and according to the poll, no students work in the labor and construction field. However, Harrison has several students who work in this field, including senior Charlie Stroud. He says he works in lawn care, and works this field because he works for his dad, and it pays well. He says he works because he needs to pay for gas and to buy parts to keep his truck running. Several members of our football team also work for Rehage Landscaping in the summer.
In conclusion, Students work for a variety of reasons, each to their own interests, and own needs and wants. They all have expenses, and they all save money for bigger and better things.
Want more information on our poll? Check it out, unless you are working!