Change My Mind: Teens should start working as soon as they're 16

My first job was at a dry cleaners.

I was barely 16 and only got the job because my barely older than me sister already worked there, and honestly, I’m not even sure how she got the job.

It’s not something on my resume now because it’s so wildly out of the scope of all of the experiences I’ve had since then but working at the dry cleaners was one of the best things to happen for my self-development.

How else is a 16-year old supposed to learn to be an adult?

I come from a family of extremely hard-working generations. My mom worked long 12-hour shifts to provide for my siblings and me, so the idea to be independent was deep in my core, and I wanted to get there as soon as I could. Having this job helped that.

Finding a job at 16 can be difficult because you have no experience, but this is a great opportunity to try new things and put yourself out there! It can also be hard in terms of accessibility especially if you don't have a car, but if you do enough research, an opportunity is sure to come up! You can befriend someone at school who already has a job that you can join and ride with, work around your parent's work schedule, or find something close to home that you can bike or walk to!

The most common places for teens to work at are fast food places such as Mcdonald's or Dairy Queen or full dining restaurants like Applebee's or Olive Garden where bussers are needed. Many small businesses like event venues or golf courses are also always looking for additional help with tasks such as set up/tear down, caddying, or dishwashing.

At the dry cleaner, I barely worked 12-16 hours a week, but that was enough to start a savings account and buy myself clothes my mom wouldn’t let me have (things that weren’t girly like my favorite Dr. Seuss shirts).

And like almost every other teen's first work experience, it definitely wasn’t glamorous. I’d work 4-6 hour shifts taking in new piles of dirty clothes that I had to sort, and we handled all cash and card transactions which meant my brain had to try not to panic when I had to hand back the correct amount of change. My favorite part was bagging the newly washed clothing; it was easy and relaxing.

When I started, it was easy because there was always someone at the shop with me, but I was being trained to be able to close up and prepare everything for the next day on my own. It was extremely nerve-wracking to know that eventually I’d be left at the shop by myself, so I tried to engrave every single instruction into my brain.

I eventually got the hang of it all. I even stopped being afraid of being in the shop by myself at night which looking back on it now, was a very valid fear as a 16-year-old girl working alone in a shop placed in the middle of an empty parking lot with no other shops around.

I also learned to master the art of small talk, which would become a lifesaver when I was in my early twenties working at a hotel. The same goes for dealing with difficult customers. I don’t understand some adults' need to be rude towards teens that are clearly new to the workforce and not in charge of the rules, but it helps you learn to be assertive in the politest of ways and how not to let them get to you (So take that Karen). And let's not forget the art of handling a rush by yourself at the end of the workday when everyone comes for their orders.

Outside of work, teens will learn the importance of being financially responsible when they realize how long and how hard one must work to make everyday purchases from entertainment activities to necessities like cars and groceries.

A lot of people will argue that a teen having a job will take away from their ability to enjoy high school activities, but it doesn’t. If anything, it makes them more excited about it because they finally have enough money of their own to treat themselves (and their dates)to football games, dances, and more! When it was slow, I was even allowed to work on my school work, and being at the shop alone helped me focus more than if I was at home. Most workplaces will help you prioritize your schoolwork by allowing time off around finals, shorter hours during weekdays, and following the laws set not to overwork or take advantage of you.

Working at a young age is also great for meeting new people that you wouldn’t normally hang out with and help you build stronger relationships through the camaraderie at work. Even though I worked at the shop myself, having this job actually helped me have a closer relationship with my sister. Once they brought me in, they were able to send her to the other location across town, and when things were slow, we would literally talk on the phone until our shifts were over or call each other if we had any questions and needed help.

But in the end, the most important lesson to learn when you're working at a young age is to appreciate the work that anybody does. You learn to value workers of every occupation when you realize how hard they work, and that there is no job to look down on because they are all vital in our everyday lives.

The dry cleaner job got me through high school and even into college, and my employers were so helpful every step of the way with any hour changes I needed, whether it was summer vacation and I wanted more hours or if it was school time and my class schedule was all over the place.

I worked there for close to 3 years before I decided to take the ultimate leap and join the army. And I can thank that job for that because it taught me to be independent, both financially and literally.

So trust me, having a job at 16 is the best thing that can happen to a teen.