Money. It doesn’t matter how far it’s traveled or what condition it’s in. It’s still valuable and something high school students want.
Senior Kyndall Ledesma works as a car hop and prepares drinks at Sonic and earns $7.25 and hour plus tips.
“I have this job to save money for college,” Ledesma said. “I want to attend Abilene Christian University to major in interior design.”
Senior Johnny Fehr works at the Water Stoppe to pay bills.
“My parents make me pay for my phone bill, my car payment and insurance, gas and food,” Fehr said. “I guess they’re trying to teach me responsibility. It’s alright. I have to deal with it when I move out of the house anyway.”
Senior Tina Rempel said her parents make her pay for her gas, phone bill and extras like clothes and shoes. She works as a secretary at the Hess Corporation.
“My parents still pay for my food and other things I need, so I don’t ask them for money,” Rempel said. “It makes me feel more responsible and good that I can do some things on my own.”
Though working has it’s negatives, senior Joy Dove enjoys being on the wait staff at Savannah’s Restaurant.
“Seeing people is the good part about waitressing,” Dove said. “When I move out, I’ll be depending on myself. Right now I’m learning how to manage my money.”
Ledesma’s parents are preparing her for life out of high school.
“My parents make me pay for my gas and my phone,” Ledesma said. “I don’t like it, but I know they are trying to teach me responsibility.”
Even though Rempel feels more responsible when paying for her own stuff, she’s not ready to be out on her own.
“I’m ready to graduate, because I’m ready to have a full time job instead of a part time job and get paid instead of coming to school and not getting paid,” Rempel said. “I’m not really ready to move out the house. I may be responsible with some things, but I am not responsible enough to move out and be on my own.”
Rempel isn’t sure what she’s going to do after high school.
“I don’t have many plans for after high school, except to work and maybe go to college,” Rempel said. “If the job I want requires college, then I’ll go.”
Ledesma isn’t sure if she’s ready to graduate.
“I’m bittersweet about graduating,” Ledesma said. “I’m ready to start my life, but I’m going to miss my friends and family.”
Fehr’s main goal is to get out of the house.
“I could possibly go to college,” Fehr said. “If I went to college I would just go for my basics because I don’t know what I want to do… I’m ready to make my own decisions, and I can’t do that when I have to get everything I want to do approved by my family first.”
Fehr is saving money for when he finishes high school and goes out on his own.
“I save $50 a paycheck for when I move out,” Fehr said. “This money is going to be for the first month’s rent for an apartment or something.”
Dove isn’t worrying about saving her money.
“I plan on going to college for nursing,” Dove said. “I’m not saving up my money because my grandma and uncle are paying for my college. I’ll be the first in my family to go, and they’re encouraging me to go. In two weeks I’ll be going to the hospital for nursing. They’ll also pay for some of my college. My parents are glad they don’t have to pay for my schooling.”
Although Rempel isn’t saving her money for anything specific, she makes sure she doesn’t lose track of her money.
“I’ve never overdrawn my checking account,” Rempel said. “I’m trying to save my money, not use it all. I keep this from happening by watching my money and not buying everything I want.”
Ledesma said she has a debit card because she doesn’t like to carry around cash, and it makes it easier to pay her phone bill online.
“I have overdrawn my account,” Ledesma said. “It wasn’t too bad. I just paid it back as soon as I got the letter from my mom who didn’t really say anything except that I needed to pay it ASAP.”
With students earning their own spending money, their parents have more money for their own activities. Fehr said his parents do more since he got a job.
“I’ve noticed that my parents go on dates more,” Fehr said. “They’ll go to a movie and eat dinner. It doesn’t bother me that they go out. My dad also got a motorcycle. I think he’s in his mid-life. He lets me drive the motorcycle, so I don’t mind it.
Rempel has also noticed her parents spending more.
“I’ve noticed my parents getting my younger siblings more things,” Rempel said. “It might just be me noticing it since they don’t get me that stuff anymore. They mainly get clothes. I don’t mind that too much. It’s good for my younger siblings.”
Fehr does still get some money from his parents.
“I don’t ask my parents for money because I make enough that I don’t have to ask them,” Fehr said. “My parents give me $10 a week for food, but I usually spend it where I want because I already pay for my own food.”
Ledesma will ask her parents for money when she thinks it’s necessary.
“Sometimes I’ll ask my parents for money,” Ledesma said. “I only ask when I have absolutely no money or when I feel it’s something they should pay for because they’re my parents.”
Fehr has health benefits and will get a paid vacation after a year at his job, which will be in May.
“It’s good that my job has benefits although I don’t use my health insurance,” Fehr said. “I’ve never been to a doctor.”
Even if the need for money drives students, the jobs they take have other benefits.
“I get to learn new things all the time,” Rempel said. “I feel that I am more grown-up and responsible than students that don’t have a job.”