“I work at the pizza place Papa Murphy’s,” said Ashlee Conley. “I don’t do anything besides making pizza and doing some dishes…It’s not necessarily hard, but I have to do these things a lot.”

High school students work for many reasons, but most enjoy taking home a paycheck. Conley feels a little different about that. “The reason I started working is because I have a lot of free time to myself,” she said. “I figured working benefits me as it helps waste time, and so I took on a part time job in which I work from 4 to 8 pm. Of course, a side benefit I get out of this is money.”

The job has other benefits, too. “I like how I get to meet lots of people when I’m there,” she said, mentioning the funny people that she works alongside who keep her entertained. “The place is actually really clean too, and the job is easy, although sometimes tiring.”

While the job takes up some of her free time, she still makes time for other important things. “In my free time, I usually do homework if I haven’t already done it,” she said. “I really enjoy going out with my friends, hanging out with my family, and sometimes at night I’ll read when I have nothing else to do.”

Some students find jobs that help them with their futures, and Conley’s choice is remotely connected to her goals. “Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a chef. I really like cooking and I want to go to culinary school to learn more about cooking,” she said. But cooking for a living is a long way off. “Right now, I’m focusing on volleyball because
that is the sport I’m playing. If I ever get a scholarship for volleyball, I will most likely take on that offer because it is something I really enjoy, since I like to be active.”