On June 9, 2023, I was standing in line for a rollercoaster at the San Mateo County Fair when my phone chimed obnoxiously loudly. As I pulled it out of my pocket to turn it on Do Not Disturb, I saw an email titled “A Runner’s Mind Team Offer,” alerting me that I had landed my dream high school job.
After working at A Runner’s Mind (ARM) for almost a year and a half, I can confidently say that my expectations of working at this local running store have been far exceeded. While initially thinking it would be as simple as selling shoes, I am even more appreciative of the knowledge and skills I have acquired thus far.
Working in sales has drastically improved my communication skills. As someone prone to mumbling and stuttering over my words, I have adopted my colleagues’ method of taking conversations at a more gradual pace to ensure guests understand the reasoning behind my recommendations and, in turn, build a sense of trust between us.
“I think that … one of the most important skills … is compassion for all different sorts of people,” said ARM General Manager Eileen Urtz. “We see a lot of different people coming into the store from all different angles of life. So, just kind of being able to relate to people and meet them where they are is [super valuable].”
However, balancing a job with my college applications, homework and extracurriculars is quite difficult. Many students have to use specific strategies to balance all of their commitments.
“I use Google Calendar to mark my work … and big tests and events that I have coming up,” said senior Isabella Lo, who is employed by Mathnasium. “I also try to prioritize my mental health on the weekends so I can … reset for the week. [However,] I do think having a job is worth the effort … because these skills help prepare me inside of school, but [also] outside of school.”
Another common concern related to high school jobs is that they usually only pay at or just above minimum wage. Then, it is often used to pay for expenses like gas and food. But earning money, however small or large, has taught me the importance of spending money with a purpose and choosing how much to set aside for achieving long-term goals.
As I prepare to graduate high school and enter college, I am grateful my part-time job has equipped me with the necessary skills to sustain a healthy work-life balance.
