“Mo’ money, mo’ problems” isn’t necessarily true for everyone. Not all students at MHS are handed a shiny plastic card and a new BMW; in fact, many students have spent their past few weekends shaking hands with employers on their mission for summer employment.

Job hunting can be difficult and intimidating for many teenagers for an array of reasons. One reason is that the economy simply does not permit extra space in the workforce for teens. Job openings also may be challenging to come by for teens due to restrictions on hours, insurance and tasks teens are able to perform.

However, there are a couple of ways to find available summer jobs. If you’re sixteen years old, try searching online at www.summerjobs.com. This website enables users to browse job openings for businesses in their general area.

Otherwise, the old-fashioned methods work too. Local newspapers almost always include a classifieds section that lists job openings and a description of the job nature. Walking around to different venues and applying to stores with “Help Wanted” signs is also just as effective; a positive of this method is that it shows the employer that you want the job enough to take time out of the day to personally visit the business.

For students who cannot find a job, Massapequa School District provides employment opportunities at its summer recreation program. “[Summer rec] is a good thing because parents who have jobs over the summer and can’t get their kids to work”, Junior Angela Williams said, “[parents] can bring their kids there and it runs the same hours as school.”

However, before becoming employed, applicants must have previously volunteered for at least two years. Another downside of working at summer rec is the salary. Yes, there is a possibility that parents will give you tips at the end of the summer, but that does not nearly make up for the difference between the salary of a real job and that earned in the blistering sun while watching screaming kids.

Junior Jesse Schaefer said, “I would rather have a real job because summer rec was too much work with less than minimum wage.”

The reason that many students often decide against applying for employment at summer rec is because of the hours. Summer rec is almost the entire day, Monday through Friday, beginning in early July and culminating in mid-August. Rain or shine, counselors are expected to be there each day, including the week of training before the program begins. On the other hand, students employed at local businesses are often able to sleep in past 7AM, choose their work-week schedule, and sometimes receive bonuses such as free meals or discounted prices.

The work may be easier, and the hours may be longer, but a fair amount of students do continue to apply for employment at summer rec rather than at local businesses. Whichever the choice of employment, you’ll be sure to see some of your peers earning a salary somewhere around town this summer.