IA Students at Work

by Ruhi Khanna and Arshia Rampuria…

Students these days have too much to keep up with. Academics, clubs, sports, and friends. Now to add to that, jobs. Working is already known to be hard for a high school student under pressure, but working while being an IA student is very different. IA demands its students to take rigor, be responsible, and think harder and differently. Let’s dive into how IA students handle their work.

We contacted two students, Sanaya Ahuja, a sophomore, and Jacob Rosenburg, a senior, to gain their perspectives on the topic as two students with jobs in the current school year.

Sanaya works at Shiv’s Institute of Dance, a place where she teaches young kids the essentials to Bollywood dancing. She works after school and at the weekends. As an IA student, she remarks upon some of the struggles which come with working and the efforts she makes to create a balance between her school and job life. Here are some questions we asked her, and here are her responses.

Ruhi: At my time at IA, I’ve learned that there are many challenges here, from the tough classes, new social life, and balance you need to maintain throughout. But one of the things I was wondering the most about is working, since most freshmen are starting to become old enough to work. As a sophomore, what have been some of your greatest learnings while working?

Sanaya: My job has taught me the importance of having a balance in life. It has taught me both discipline and time management.

Ruhi: What would you say is the hardest part about being an IA student and working in a job?

Sanaya: The hardest part about being an IA student and working is that IA is far from where I live. Commuting to and from school takes up a lot of my time, and on the weekdays that I work, I have less than 2 hours to finish all my homework.

Ruhi: Do you think these challenges would be less if you did not attend IA?

Sanaya: I think it would be difficult, regardless of if I went to IA or any other home school.

Ruhi: Has working ever affected your health or grades?

Sanaya: Working has not affected my health or my grades much. Sometimes, it has been stressful trying to do be a student and have a job. I have had to stay up later than usual. Occasionally, I will not do as good on a test as I would have liked, but I usually pull through by the end of the semester to earn the grades I want.

Ruhi: Taking from the previous question, how do you balance academics and work?

Sanaya: I try to utilize class time the most, and have things done ahead of time. On the days that I have work, I make sure to study ahead of time and have assignments due on those days done and turned in before I go to work.

Jacob Rosenburg, a current senior at IA, shares a different experience. He works 15-20 hours a week at his local Dominoes and considers his experiences differently between his club, school, and work balance. Here are some of his responses:

Ruhi: With your experience in this job, I am sure that you have gone through your fair share of ups and downs working at Dominoes. Overall, what would you say are the hardest parts and sacrifices that come with the added responsibility?

Jacob: Working late while trying to keep up with homework and assignments is one of the hardest parts that come with having a job. I will have to do my homework assignments at work because I do not have the time to do it at any other part of the day. Like, for example, when I have a quiz bowl tournament and work, I usually end up having no other time to get the work done.

Ruhi: What have been some of your greatest learnings from having a job?

Jacob: Working has taught me how to deal with annoying people, the kind you wouldn’t find at school. It’s as said: I’ve learned how to keep my patience and handle them when they are screaming at me through the phone.

Ruhi: What are some expectations you had from the job versus the reality you experienced?

Jacob: I knew I was going to be paid but I didn’t realize how low I was going to be paid. I knew it would suck; I didn’t realize I would have to work until 1:00 am. I expected my manager to be rude, but he’s really cool, that’s one of the good parts of the job.

Ruhi: What advice do you have for aspiring IA students getting a job?

Jacob: Working will affect your grades. I try to balance it, but sometimes it ends up falling apart and I end up missing homework assignments. For me, it sort of affects my health because I have to work till 1:00 am, and that messes up my sleep schedule. I do not recommend taking these late shifts. Yes, they do exist.

Ruhi: Would working be easier if you did not attend IA?

Jacob: It would definitely be easier if I did not go to IA because I would live closer to the job. I must take the bus home, and it gets me there pretty late. It’s kind of difficult if I want to work weekdays.

Sanaya and Jacob’s perspectives show the realities that come with having a job while being a high school student. From health, stress, transportation, or simply just trying to keep a balance, there are many struggles that students may face, and many responsibilities they’ll have to take to keep a coordinated lifestyle. All in all, these jobs develop notable and lasting experiences that differ from what school typically offers to student. To our working class at IA!