Stratford Students Balance Work and Summer Fun

(Photo provided by Sarah Henkel, class of '14, who will be attending The University of Texas this fall)

Many students will remember the sun’s intense rays beating down on glistening sand as the ocean slowly creeps closer towards them. It is a common memory of summer. Vacations are, after all, one of the core pillars of a students summer life. Another, less common, pillar is the enticing, but often exhausting summer job.

A job offers the first glimpse of life with disposable income and the many freedoms that it affords. Vacation time is cut short because of a job, but for many students this trade off is worth it.

Austin Cepeda is one of those students. Cepeda, a senior this upcoming year at Stratford, started work at Big Tex Tree Nurseries over the winter break and decided to return there when school ended in June. From answering the phone to giving clients a tour of the nursery Cepeda experienced his first taste of real work. Hours fluctuated from nine hours on the weekdays to all day on the weekends, but through all of it he learned about how the business worked. Despite having to endure the summer heat and tough manual labor Cepeda continued working and now can name any tree he passes on the road. The knowledge and communication skills Cepeda gained will help him in the coming months as he applies for colleges and writes essays.

No matter the struggles it may present, a summer job can always benefit a student. Whether it is through newly acquired skills or contacts made the perks far outweigh the conflicts. A summer job is always an option that should be considered when planning the summer calendar.