mma Work is not necessarily over when school hours are finished. For many students, part-time jobs, and various other activities, provide opportunities to relax, enjoy themselves, and participate and learn by getting involved. On a given night, one might expect to be doing any number of things. Maybe sitting at home, cramming for a Social Studies Seminar test, crashed out on the couch after a rough practice, getting ready for the date you’ve been waiting for the whole week, or talking on the phone for hours. The average student usually spends his evenings in a combination of activities, ranging from attending a school sponsored event to sleeping, and generally leads a relatively normal social life. Those students with jobs, however, are forced to alter their schedules often, passing up chances to have fun because . . . “ Sorry. I have to work.” Holding down a job while in high school can sometimes be difficult, yet also rewarding. Reasons for putting up with the hassles that a job can bring are varied, still, the biggest influence is the money! , Junior Nick Lehmkuhl expressed dissatisfaction with his job at Bishop’s, “ If it wasn’t for the money, I’d quit! Minimum wage is $3.35 an hour, but I’m making about $3.60 an hour now.” The Target department store employs many students from Prairie, one of which is Holli Kemmerer. A senior, Holli works as a cashier for $5.05 an hour, basically earning money for college and a car. Though certainly interested in the money, Cynthia Dennis had other important reasons for getting a job. ‘Since I hurt my knee, I couldn’t really go out for any sports. I needed something to occupy my time, so I got a job at Jack’s. You get to meet all kinds of interesting people that you wouldn’t run into everyday, and having a job has helped me handle school better. I’ve learned to relate to different types of people in a positive way.” Whatever the reason for getting a job in the first place, jobs play a major role in the life of many students at Prairie. Student Life — 5
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