Throughout a student’s high school career, individuals determine how to organize their after-school activities. Some opt to include part-time jobs in their schedules, often aligning with their interests.
Students proficient in managing school work often find employment a valuable opportunity to establish connections and further immerse themselves in their interests.
The California Department of Education mandates the acquisition of work permits for minors interested in pursuing employment. These permits outline essential details such as the job’s location, duties, and work hours. Most students at Carlmont will need to get a work permit, as this requirement applies to individuals under 18.
“There are about 350 permits issued a school year,” said Roxanne Seliger. She processes Carlmont students’ work permits.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 55% of people between the ages of 16 and 24 are employed as of 2023.
Sophomore Jada Campbell is one of the many employed students at Carlmont. Since age six, Campbell has been involved in figure skating. On top of being a Tremors Synchronized Skating intermediate team member, she is employed at Nazareth Ice Oasis, an ice rink in San Mateo.
“I go to the rink on Wednesdays and Fridays for individual practice, Sundays for team practice, and Saturdays for work,” Campbell said.
She works three to five hours per week. Her responsibilities include working as a cashier and being a teacher’s assistant. She uses her skating experience to help little kids become more comfortable on the ice.
“I helped out at the skating camp and was asked if I wanted to keep working,” Campbell said.
Campbell flourishes during the rink’s busiest hours. She is always doing something. Whether it’s handing out and putting away rental skates or cleaning up, she always finds ways in which she can be the best employee possible.
“I embrace the busyness. It’s more fun when it’s busy because there’s more stuff to do,” Campbell said.
Campbell decided to work because she had extra time on Saturdays. For her, working at an ice rink was the best choice because of her interest in figure skating.
“I thought it would be nice to have some extra money. I’ve been skating for a long time, and the commute to the rink is really short,” Campbell said.
Like Campbell, senior Elisa Luo-Wimmer has a job rooted in her passion. Luo-Wimmer began her own nail-business.
“I was traveling when I got my nails done in Japan, and they cost me so much money. And I was thinking to myself, I can do this when I get back,” Luo-Wimmer said.
She ordered supplies while she was abroad so they would arrive when she returned from her summer trip. After transforming her one-car garage into a workspace with a desk and a shoji screen and doing hours of research, Luo-Wimmer was ready to take customers.
“I knew that my friends would enjoy this, and if my friends enjoyed it, I’m sure their friends would enjoy it as well. So then I was like, well, if you’re interested in getting your nails done by me, I can open my garage door, and you can come in,” Luo-Wimmer said.
Luo-Wimmer has always loved doing nails. She started doing press-on nails around third grade, and she likes seeing the progression of her work on her camera roll.
“No matter where I am in the world, as long as I carry that expertise and skill, people will come to me because they want their nails done for special events. The pay is much more than working a regular coffee shop job, which I used to do,” Luo-Wimmer said.
Her favorite thing about her job is its flexibility and the ability to talk to customers. She also likes how doing nails is like starting with a blank canvas and finishing with a product that the creator and customer are happy with.
“I was like, I’m just going to start doing this myself because I already know how to do art. I’ve been doing art from a young age, so it translated perfectly,” Luo-Wimmer said.
Amidst the heavy workload of a high schooler, students turn their passions into purposeful employment, creating an intersection of personal interests and practical experience.
