working as a teenager - have others had this problem?

For all you fellow teenagers out there, Tengo una problema (I have a problem). My friend just got me a job at this restaurant she works at, last week. I am a hostess on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. She was really happy because her other friend was fired, and because I take her place as a hostess on these days, she can now become a waitress. Anyway, the first week was so hectic!! I almost had an anxiety attack--it is hard to operate the computers, and my boss is big and scary.

Anyway, as a result, I had no time to work on NHD (National History Day, a dumb project I am forced to do), and it is due Wednesday. Today and tomorrow I will be scrambling to finish since it is one eighth of my quarter grade, and everyone in my class is an over achiever. My mom saw the stress I was under, and told me that I definitely should quit.

Here is the problem. I am extremely reluctant, because I feel bad quitting after three days, and I am too afraid to tell my boss (he'll get ridiculoulsly infuriated, I fear), and my friend will be forced to be a hostess once more. She is trying to convince me to stay, however I feel that there is no way I will be able to keep up with my school work. She argued that she is able to manage it, but she dismisses me when I tell her that honors classes have much more homework.

My family thinks that I should quit, since firstly, I am not officially working there (I get paid in cash, and I don't think my hours follow the laws for people under 16), and also, everyone tells me that sophmore year is the most important/hardest.

Forgive me for my rant, and if you'll excuse me, National History Day awaits!

In love,

Diana

 

No jobs worth losing your peace of mind over.

If you stay there because you're afraid your boss'l get mad if you quit, that sort of makes you his slave doesn't it?

 

actually junior year is the most important/hardest. and every teenager who works has this problem. we deal with it. just wait till college.

 

So far I've had three mental breakdowns due to my part-time job, and I've only been working there for a month and a half. I'm also a sophmore and I'm finding it very hard to do 4 shifts a week and keep up with the school work. Maybe ask for less hours, and if they refuse, just quit. Thats what I plan on doing.

 

meh i worked 30 hours a week all thru highschool
work sucks, but less then being broke.

 

you've only been working there three days, and the first few shifts of any job are going to be some of the most stressful you have to go through. there's a lot of new faces; lots of names, steps, policies, etc to remember; memorizing table numbers; and you haven't gotten used to the schedule changes you'll have to make with any job you get. working only three days a week, (towards the end of the week, yet not taking up your whole weekend) is a work schedule almost too good to be true. do you make a percentage of tip share? those are the best nights to hostess if you do. if you stick with it, it will be a lot easier as time goes on. maybe you can ask to switch some shifts with another hostess? say, start out working on nights that will generally be slower and less hectic, like a tuesday night. and like somebody above said, your sophomore year is definitely not your most important year of high school, and it is by far not the most difficult year... so wait until your junior year to stress about that.

how important is it that you work? you're under 16 so i assume you're not making car payments or anything. maybe you're saving up for one. it's always nice to have some extra cash, but is it worth losing your peace of mind? any job will bring you a lot of stress... resturants seem especially so, but based on my restaurant experiences, hosting is definitely one of the least stressful jobs in the restaurant.

as jobs go, yours definitely sounds like it's one of the better ones. so if you need the money, then stick with it... quitting and finding a new job will bring even more stress. if you don't need to work, then quit, and celebrate the time you have when you don't need to work. a few bucks isn't worth your happiness.

you said it's causing you a lot of stress, but you didn't say that you want to quit... you said your mom and family wants you to quit. so if you want to quit, then quit... but don't quit because others don't think you can handle it.

 

the first few days of any job is hard. I can't find it in myself to tell you to up and quit because I worked TONS when I was in school. I work tons now. But my point is do you WANT to quit? Is it worth it? Everyone's situation is different. What you should think about right now is experiance. If and when you go to college, you will have much more work to do and may have to find a job also. It just gets harder from here on out so I would do as much as you can until it is simply not worth it anymore. But don't think that quitting is the answer. I went through hell sometimes, but it was worth it. Education is important but it isn't everything. I never even finished high school and I'm running a business. How? I work hard and don't give up easily. If it's really causing you stress that quit, but maybe you should think about real life for a second. Like I said, it doesn't get any easier from here.

 

I'm in my 3rd job now & its takes about 1-6 months before you really feel you can do it with your eyes closed, I think the main thing with a job is that you're happy with who you work with & you can go to them for help & support because like me you're working in a team enviroment & without it things don't work so well, I'd say hang in for 6 months if you can & see if things are shaping up ok

 

I'm 17 now and have been working since I was 14 (eighth grade), always during the school year. I have worked a couple summers, but mostly the school year because I like to travel a lot over the summer and employers don't usually like that. Sooner or later, hopefully not sooner (although probably this year), I'm going to have to face reality and work summers to help pay for college. Anyway, at this point, I have no problem trying to balance school and work. It takes a while to get used to, and I certainly had a head start, but once you get in the swing of things and it becomes routine, the work pays off and the stress tends to go away. Hang in there if you can dig the extra money. Once it's routine, you'll have no worries.

 

quit they're using you.You have years of work ahead.

 

You might want to learn how to jugle school with working. All jobs suck at first I would wait a little longer you will learn everything and will get use to it Unless you got a pretty good set up at home and it really is taking a toll on your school work. But you know you do have your whole life to work

 

Chickz have no problem workin 4 whoever will give dam what day want --
like givin birth 2 another humonoid.

 

Your employer isn't paying your unemployment or social security.He is not looking out for your well being.You're afraid he'll get mad if you go against him and quits.Screw him.Your friend wants you to hostess so she won't have to.Not so bad but self serving non the less,the heck with her.Don't be afraid to work,but don't be afraid to quit.Read up on the labor movement and the sacrafices they made for us.Respect them by not taking a step backwards.Honor them by using the same courage they had and quit.Don't be afraid,youre standing up for us all.
Especially if you're putting your time into school and working hard at it,that's whats important right now.Graduate with honors get a good job,send me some money and become an employer.You be the boss this guy wasn't.Change the world.

 

Yeah, Im a host too and I work at east side marios and it only opened this summer and thats when i started. at first it was crazy and I actually cried once or twice but its been a couple of months now and Its awesome and I love it and the other hosts I work with are awesome people so it makes it that much better, but my moms my boss so she can just get me time off that I need for school and such

 

I'm so glad I don't work as serving the public anymore. I respect all you guys that do it. Big thanks!!

I've been there and I know it's hard!

 

I thank everyone for their advice. I finally did decide to quit my job after eight weeks. One incentive were some of the poor grades I have been getting since I started working there. Another reason for my departure was that you basically can't ever get time off, and this weekend I am attending a fasting event with my friend.

In love,

Diana

 

School is more important than a job. I would quit. I've never had a job during the school year because I look at it this way: getting into a good college or having money. I would rather have more money in the longrun and be broke now.

 

School is NOT more important than a job. School is to prepare you to be able to handle a job. Most people juggle school and a job and if you can't function with having to work a few nights a week, you better plan on being very miserable when you finally grow up or be a mooch and have mommy and daddy take care of you.

I think you people are weak. That's life. Everyone works jobs they don't want to.

 

School is bullshit.

 

Headymoechick, I agree that in the long run a job is a number one priority; however I think that it is more important that one go to college because it will allows them to reach for higher-paying jobs and prepare them mentally and socially for life afterward. I think I made the right choice. I have decided to start working again in the summer, when it is easier to handle a job. Also, I know I will have to work all through college anyway, seeing as how starting this summer both of my parents will be unemployed, and they are already spending any money we have to send my brother through college. I figure if I might as well enjoy these last days in high school when I won't have to work, instead of remaining miserable throughout high school and college.

In love,

Diana