By Connor Hawthorne, Staff Writer
As the school year comes to a close, River Hill students are as busy as ever as they try to end the year strong. While some students look forward to a relaxing summer with nothing to do, many students are busy preparing for summer jobs.
Many teens undertake summer jobs to earn money for college and to spend, others work internships with the goal of learning new skills that will help them with their future careers. Sophomore Tej Vaishnav plans to work as a project management intern for Deque Systems this summer. Tej describes how “my dad works at this company so I was naturally interested.” Tej took this job to learn new skills that will help him later in life, and to gain experience in how the professional world works. Tej believes that “Summer jobs are very helpful to students because it keeps them busy and gives them something to do.”
A common local employer of River Hill students is Columbia Association, the organization that runs the local pools, gyms and other community facilities. In particular, the River Hill pool offers students the job positions of lifeguards. Sophomore Jake Pototsky plans on returning to work as a lifeguard this summer. Jake has been working as a lifeguard for two years. Last year’s experience as a lifeguard taught him many valuable skills, and he is looking forward to working again this year. He elaborates how “working a job in the summer lets you meet new people, gain a lot of experience and make money.” Jake describes the lifeguard job as enjoyable and more relaxed compared to other jobs; however, he feels it is still intense with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the swimmers.
Other students choose more physically demanding occupations over the summer. Sophomore Marcus Hadeed plans to work at a horse farm once school finishes, admitting that the work can be intense and demanding at times. Marcus states, “I do a lot of maintenance, whether it’s with overgrown vegetation or with the machinery.” One benefit of Marcus’ job is that the hours are very flexible, with the owner who works around Marcus’ schedule. Although it can be tough at times, Marcus takes pride in his work and believes that “working in the summer gets you up and out of the house, which is very important. It’s useful to have some sort of direction in the summer, and working builds character.”
Working in the summer gives students a sense of purpose and direction, along with meeting new people, earning money and gaining valuable life experience. Tej advises any student seeking a job that “Earning your own money promotes independence in students and teaches them important skills.” Jake wants job seekers to be aware that they should “apply as soon and possible, and get your interviews done quickly.” Whether you plan on working or just relaxing, River Hill students are ready for summer!