Summer jobs are not just there to let teens earn money. These are also great ways to learn more about life.
The simple general policy that says, "The customer is always right.." , is something that comes to reality when teens with a summer job gets there and serve as much customers as they can. There will be tough times that they need to wrestle with the customer's right to be right against what is truly acceptable. When the customer is wrong, he surely is not right. How is this managed? It differs from case to case and it is very helpful when teens face this kind of circumstance and learn from it.
Some teens get into babysitting, which is fun yet can be very challenging. Behind this job is a lesson to learn about parenting as well. Babysitting during a summer job is not just a high-paying task but a lifetime educator that tells a young worker that life with a kid is not that easy, thus he/she should not rush to be a parent without due preparation.
When teens get into community service, values are definitely added to his/her personality. Serving comes with humility. It is not so easy especially when you are surrounded with prideful, self-centered, and self righteous people. Humility is one of the greatest attributes that will equip teens in their endeavors in the future. It is more powerful than pride.
Speaking of humility, I remember one cool fastfood that hires workers and lets them all start as a janitor no matter the position that they are applying for. This is Wendy's policy. I admire their policy as it molds every worker to be humble always and understand their subordinates because they will always know what it feels to work from the bottom and what they are getting through because they have been there themselves.
The president's daughter, Sasha Obama, is now working at her parent's favorite seafood joint and perhaps the reason why her parents allowed her to have the job is not because she will earn money but because of the values that she would earn while she is working. Money is not easily earned. Rich kids should also learn this as well.
Two months for the summer may be short but it can make a huge impact on teens who work that will last for a lifetime. As a teen, make sure that you get to treat yourself with such learning as well.
