Students already have a lot on their plate, four classes that are all giving assignments and homework, chores to do at home and possibly many others. Adding a job on top of all these burdens can cause burnout and stunt emotional growth of teen brains.

An article states, “If teenagers are being overworked, there is a large possibility of mental health decline.”

Stress can be a huge new factor for teens when a job is added to their life. The new developing teen brain can respond differently than adults to stress. This could cause chances of developing stress-related mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. This could cause morbidities that can follow into adulthood.

Students are asked to work during the week. Most students go straight to work right after school.

“I work at chick-fil-a, up in North Myrtle Beach,” said junior Emma Yando. “I work, like, 20 hours a week now that school’s started.”

Some kids have to close at a late time which means that they would be getting home late and they would be going to bed pretty late.

Yando claims “I got promoted and in order to keep that position I have to close on school nights, that makes me not have time to do my homework.” She also states “I get home at like 12 a.m. and then it makes me not want to go to school.”

Everyone knows that teens should be getting a minimum of 8 hours of rest to be able to focus and have better functioning grades. Teens actually need more sleep because they are in a time of very fast physical, intellectual and emotional growth. Some employers abuse the fact that teens’ brains are still in development. Teens who have never had a job are more open to vulnerability, many employers can see it as an opportunity to cut payroll costs. Though many debate that teens due to less experience should get minimum wage, even if they are doing the same jobs and in the same position as some adults.

Jobs form a new sense of responsibility. It can take away from a teens sense of childhood. Putting them in the workforce makes them feel more independent and grown. It can cause teens to not seek out for help as much as they should. Even in some cases making teens question if they should drop out. According to, North Carolina’s dropout rate is 13%, which is low in comparison to our graduation rate which is 87%. It still makes you wonder about those who simply quit. It just happens that you can work at age as low as 14, and quit school by age 16.

To sum it up, teenagers are still kids. Turning old enough to work does not mean high school students are ready to work every day. With impossible hours and a tiring night’s rest that follow up with school the next morning. It is almost impossible to balance the stress of school and everyday life.