Many students are actually picking up hours at work during the pandemic — for some, at the same time they are supposed to be in class.

In a survey of Cicero students, 7 out of 10 said they are actually working while going to school.  In the poll of ten, one of three sophomores worked, two juniors worked, three of four seniors worked, and one college student worked.

While teens are legally allowed to start working at the age of 16, this can affect their school and personal lives on many levels.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from April to July 2020, the number of employed youth 16 to 24 years old increased by 4.4 million to 17.5 million. More young folks are working for their own need or to support their family financially. Although balancing school and woke many seem like a bad choice, it does come with its benefits. According to The College of St. Scholastica, some pros include learning time management skills, expanding your social circle, earning income, and even graduating with less student debt. According to Inside Higher ED, 70 percent of full-time college students are working. More high school and college students are working in order to provide for themselves and buy the things they want but might not need. Although now more than, ever you see more high school and young college students in jobs like fast food and retail.

”I am currently a junior in college, and I am still working.  I have been working since my sophomore year of high school; it is a little bit harder to manage school and work now just because school is still my first priority, but now I am working to pay towards my school tuition,” college junior Jacqueline Torres said.

But, even some teachers can still remember the work and school life.

“I worked in high school and some in college. In high school it was hard. I became more interested in work than school and my parents weren’t happy about that. But, I mostly worked in the summer. In college, it was an on-campus job so it was pretty flexible,” Morton East Teacher Ms. Rani Esposito said.

While some work during school in order to further provide for themselves, others don’t really need to work.

”My main priority has always been school, I have a roof over my head, food on the table, and clothes to wear,” senior Cecy Monarrez said.