How to Help Senior High School Learners Balance Work and School 

In this post, we shared tips on how to help senior high school learners balance work and school.

Students work hard each year not just to pass their subjects, but to excel in their studies. As learners reach senior high, they are faced with a challenging task. That is to choose a strand they can take that will help prepare themselves for college.

Those who want to take college degrees related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math have the option to choose the STEM strand in senior high school. Other tracks focus on different college degrees. Choosing what track to take is one of the biggest decisions a senior high school student can make.

Some learners have no problem when it comes to their finances. Their parents can fully support their studies. This makes it easier for the students to focus on their studies alone.

But then, life these days is becoming extremely difficult for most people. Many lost their jobs, most of which have students to feed. For teen learners, this is what usually prompts them to work early on while studying.

Most students want to earn money, so they can help provide for their family’s needs. For others, they want to make the best out of their free time by earning experience early on. But should you allow your teen to work while they are still at school?

Working While Studying: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Many parents fear that if their kids work while studying, they would get distracted and their academic performance will suffer. Teens often have a hard time catching up with school work even if they are only working part-time jobs. This can also put students at risk if their employers fail to ensure their health and safety while working.

Many parents also don’t like the idea of their teens beingextremely tiredafter a long day of studying and working. This can impact their health and leave them with little to no time for sleep, play, and their social life. Working early on can also install bad habits or negative views about work.

On the other hand, students who work while in high school often develop a healthy relationship between education and personal finances. Since they get to earn their own money even with little-to-no education, they will find it easier to learn the value of money. They will no longer waste money and will start saving early on.

Working while learning enables students to boost their confidence and learn many important skills. They get to learn how to manage their time wisely to make sure they have enough time to get everything done for their studies. According to research, teens are more likely to stay out of trouble even months after working.

Helping Your SHS Learner Balance Work, School, and Personal Life

Help Them Create a Realistic Schedule

The first thing you can do is to help your teen plan their days ahead. A realistic schedule will help them balance everything on their plate. Make sure they have enough hours to cover sleep, studying, and work.

Giving them a planner is a good way to list their commitments. You can also recommend a number of planning a apps to organize work and class schedules, as well as other activities. Remind your teen to try to stick to their schedule.

If he starts feeling overwhelmed and their schedule is not working anymore, allow them to take a breather. Help them review their schedule and make the necessary adjustments. Soon, they will start to learn how to better manage their time wisely.

Related: How to Avoid Cruch Time at Your Workplace

Prioritize Their Health

It is crucial that you remind your teen to get enough rest and sleep, eat healthy meals on time, and maintain an active lifestyle. Despite their busy schedule, there are ways they can maintain a healthy lifestyle. With your guidance, they will find it easier to achieve this.

You can prepare their nutritious meals ahead of time, so they can simply reheat their food. Encourage exercise while they study. They can read their notes while on the way to work, do research while eating, or listen to downloadable lectures while working out.

Remind them to rest as necessary and to also have fun every once in a while. Allow them to take a few breaks in between studying. As much as possible, make sure they get enough sleep each night.

Help Them Find the Right Job

Just because your teen is confident does not mean you should simply let him take every job opportunity available. For senior high school students, it is best to find jobs that are safe, and are near their school or where they live. Note that the best jobs for teens are those that are related to their major.

On-campus jobs can be a good choice for teens. If they can’t find a job inside their school, you can opt to help them find a job opening near your house or school. You can also recommend freelance or remote jobs that will allow them to work from home during their free time.

It can be hard for students to balance their studies and work. But it is not impossible to do so. One only needs to learn how to manage their time effectively, be willing to commit, and make some sacrifices. If your teen is keen on taking a job while studying, you can use these tips on how to help senior high school learners balance work and school as a guide to help them achieve a better work-school balance.

Related: How You Can Earn a Degree While Keeping a Full-Time Job