As a high school educator, I see many problems that develop in the lives of our teenagers. A stressful school schedule, dating problems, and general responsibilities stacking up can overwhelm an adolescent. Often times, included in that "general responsibilities" column is a job.

According to Thomas Hine, author of "Working at 14 and Paying for It," 38% of 15 year-olds in the U. S. work, and by the time teenagers are seniors in high school, 73% of them will have worked at least part of the year.

Yes, having a job instills responsibility. Yes, having a job helps parents financially. And yes, having a job helps the teenager to work with others and under a boss. However, are the stresses of life-excluding work-already enough to overwhelm the mind of our teenagers, without the worry and stress of a job?

Josh Gaddis, a 16 year-old boy in my first period speech/debate class stated, "Having a job is tough, but having four jobs is tougher. I go to school, go to church, and go to work. When I am not doing those things, I am too tired to do anything else. I want to sit at the computer, rest, and sleep when I am at home."

It is evident that a teenager needs "self" time, time with friends, time with family, and proper sleep patterns to function properly. However, our teens are so worried about making those car payments and insurance premiums that they don't understand how to live a normal, teenaged life.

When I look at the statement that Josh made, I realize that isn't normal or healthy. He is wearing himself out; he is oblivious to fun, and he is turning into a workaholic. This is certainly not an easy teenaged life. It is a life full of stress.

Okay, so your argument may be, "Most students do not have four jobs." This is true; however, I asked another student how many hours she usually works at her one part-time job. Her response was around 20 hours. I then asked Josh how many hours he worked at each job. He plays the piano for his church (he plays for the Sunday morning and evening worship services, as well as for the choir), he works at his aunt and uncle's fitness center, he tutors two children after school, and he works one day a week at the elementary school. When you add those things up, he works around 23 hours a week. That is barely more than what one student works in one job, so the stress and mental/physical exhaustion is still there. Josh said he has to work that much to make his car payment and insurance premium. The girl stated that, "School isn't as important as making my car payment."

That brings about another problem. Our teens are too concerned about car payment and money than their education. Not only are they neglecting their school work, they are also depriving themselves of sleep that is needed for awareness, memory, etc. This, of course, brings about a decline in grades.

Yes, working as a teenager instills responsibility and helps to increase "people" skills, but it adds to the already stressful life of an adolescent, as well as to the interest in making car payments, rather than good grades.