When I was fourteen, I held my first real summer job. I served as a gatekeeper at our local community pool. My job was to ensure that everyone who entered the gate signed in and had their membership identification pin. If someone was not a member, he or she had to be a paid guest of a member, and I collected the fee. I remember finding the job extremely boring. I watched the lifeguards longingly, as they joked with each other and with guests near or in the water, just beyond my earshot.
Despite the monotony, from that summer job I learned responsibility. I rode my bike to and from my job daily and learned to be on time. I committed myself to the job, which was tedious and extremely hot, and, although the job paid, it did not pay well and was generally thankless. No one wanted to be stopped by the gatekeeper, whether to sign in or to pay. I learned conflict resolution as I dealt with members who tried to slight the system and sneak in guests.
My job was only a stepping stone to the development of my character and my work ethic. It was neither glamorous nor noteworthy.
Many parents today seem to underestimate the value of a paid job for their children. Teenagers go from school, to camp, to travel, and to mission trips, some of which are “travel” in the disguise of community service. Students attend rigorous and expensive academic camps at esteemed colleges, presumably to build résumés. I would wager, however, that none of these activities develop the character of your children better than a hardworking, honest-to-goodness job that requires dedication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
If your child’s video-game playing and laziness are already starting to irk you, strongly encourage him or her to get out and work, to earn some money. Whether seeking employment at a local establishment or starting a personal business mowing grass, babysitting, coaching sports, assisting camps, washing cars, or servicing bicycles, your child may stumble upon a summer job that will be a lifelong lesson in initiative, grit, communication, and money management. Let’s face it, work can be monotonous, draining, and difficult, but it also can be confidence-boosting and rewarding. Encourage your children to seize this learning opportunity.