6 answers
Nolda
Student
Orlando, Florida
2
Questions
Asked
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How can I manage working and also going to school?
Hi, I’m Nolda. I’m a 17 year old high school senior. I recently started a paid internship working at Spectrum as a customer representative. I started in the summer before my senior year. How can I manage working at a high demanding job and also staying focused in my senior year? I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I honestly didn’t think it was going to be this hard either. My school counselor thinks I should just focus on school only but I worked hard to get that internship opportunity. It feels wrong to give up on it when I know it will provide me with many opportunities in the future. Could I please get some advice on what I should do?
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6 answers
Don Holland
Member Service Representative/Food Runner
244
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Nolda,
I am happy that you were able to get a good internship at Spectrum and are continuing with your education! In terms of balancing your schedule there is not one specific thing but there are many things you can plan or work around. In terms of work, you can see how many hours you can get during the week and check with your manager about trying to find the balance. Some jobs, will be more lenient than others and it is important to figure out if Spectrum will be lenient with you when it comes to your school. In terms of school you can always find plans or speak with your teachers/counselors about what are good habits in terms of time management. It will all be a time management situation and you will need to explore what ultimately makes sense to you. I would suggest focusing your efforts on school and trying to see if Spectrum can help you in supporting your goals. If it was me, I would focus my intentions on school because I can always get another job but cannot really get another education. I know that you will be able to decide what makes sense for you in your life and I wish you the best going forward!
I am happy that you were able to get a good internship at Spectrum and are continuing with your education! In terms of balancing your schedule there is not one specific thing but there are many things you can plan or work around. In terms of work, you can see how many hours you can get during the week and check with your manager about trying to find the balance. Some jobs, will be more lenient than others and it is important to figure out if Spectrum will be lenient with you when it comes to your school. In terms of school you can always find plans or speak with your teachers/counselors about what are good habits in terms of time management. It will all be a time management situation and you will need to explore what ultimately makes sense to you. I would suggest focusing your efforts on school and trying to see if Spectrum can help you in supporting your goals. If it was me, I would focus my intentions on school because I can always get another job but cannot really get another education. I know that you will be able to decide what makes sense for you in your life and I wish you the best going forward!
Andrea Mazie
consulting
20
Answers
Providence, Rhode Island
Updated
Andrea’s Answer
Ultimately, your counselor is right. Your number one job - especially senior year in high school - is as a student. That said, my guess is both your teachers at school and your manager at your internship would like to see you succeed and grow in both places. What if you think about small tweaks that would make the combined workload more manageable and go to your teachers/manager with a plan - whether that's looking for ways to align school assignment with internship work so that you get more mileage out of each, or adjusting your internship hours or specific expectations so you have flexibility the weeks that school is particularly demanding.
You won't be the first student they have worked with who is feeling overwhelmed. But in my experience, if you come to them with some solutions, that will actually make you stand out and just might solve some of your problems.
Good luck!
You won't be the first student they have worked with who is feeling overwhelmed. But in my experience, if you come to them with some solutions, that will actually make you stand out and just might solve some of your problems.
Good luck!
Guille Esquivel
Athlete Manager
15
Answers
Inglewood, California
Updated
Guille’s Answer
Plan your day so you can manage both tasks. While I see the counselor's point, tackling tough tasks is often necessary to make progress. This will help you get ready for a full-time college schedule.
Jackson Lagerwey
Consulting
32
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jackson’s Answer
Hey Nolda,
Its completely understandable that you are experiencing this. Balancing work and school is very difficult, especially if both are very demanding. I think there are a few things you can do here:
1. Speak to your manager -> I think the very first thing you can try to do is to adjust your schedule or decrease your hours based on demands from schoolwork. Its very important to always communicate with your managers to ensure you are both on the same page and they are aware of your situation. Maybe you can reach out to her/him to explain your current workload, discuss possible adjustments, and explore any flexibility she/he might be able to offer. This way, you’ll show initiative, maintain transparency, and work together to find a solution that supports both your academic and work responsibilities. You can also ask to make up for some hours over the holidays or the weekends if you are willing to do that. I also recommend you ask for lower workloads on the weeks of exams etc. Honestly, I do think that they will accommodate your needs and your hours, since you are in high school and have other commitments. I had friends in college for example that did a full time internship during the summer that was adjusted to a part time internship during the school year which allowed them to balance both.
2. Speak with your teachers -> It can also help to be open with your teachers about your situation so they understand the challenges you are balancing. They may be willing to provide extra support, flexibility with deadlines, or guidance on prioritizing assignments during busier weeks.
3. Create a schedule -> You will benefit from organizing your time in advance so you can clearly see when to focus on schoolwork and when to dedicate time to your job. I recommend using google calendar or any other calendar.
At the end of the day, I think its very important for you to focus on your education and graduating with high marks, so if you feel like its not possible to balance both work and school, you should always pick school at the end of the day. It is a long term investment. Also, I do recommend that even if it is hard and you've decided to quit, you should at least stay for a few months to get some experience under your belt and not leave the company too early.
Its completely understandable that you are experiencing this. Balancing work and school is very difficult, especially if both are very demanding. I think there are a few things you can do here:
1. Speak to your manager -> I think the very first thing you can try to do is to adjust your schedule or decrease your hours based on demands from schoolwork. Its very important to always communicate with your managers to ensure you are both on the same page and they are aware of your situation. Maybe you can reach out to her/him to explain your current workload, discuss possible adjustments, and explore any flexibility she/he might be able to offer. This way, you’ll show initiative, maintain transparency, and work together to find a solution that supports both your academic and work responsibilities. You can also ask to make up for some hours over the holidays or the weekends if you are willing to do that. I also recommend you ask for lower workloads on the weeks of exams etc. Honestly, I do think that they will accommodate your needs and your hours, since you are in high school and have other commitments. I had friends in college for example that did a full time internship during the summer that was adjusted to a part time internship during the school year which allowed them to balance both.
2. Speak with your teachers -> It can also help to be open with your teachers about your situation so they understand the challenges you are balancing. They may be willing to provide extra support, flexibility with deadlines, or guidance on prioritizing assignments during busier weeks.
3. Create a schedule -> You will benefit from organizing your time in advance so you can clearly see when to focus on schoolwork and when to dedicate time to your job. I recommend using google calendar or any other calendar.
At the end of the day, I think its very important for you to focus on your education and graduating with high marks, so if you feel like its not possible to balance both work and school, you should always pick school at the end of the day. It is a long term investment. Also, I do recommend that even if it is hard and you've decided to quit, you should at least stay for a few months to get some experience under your belt and not leave the company too early.
Michelle Schnob
Sales Enablement / Learning and Development
5
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi Nolda, first, congrats on earning that internship, that’s a huge accomplishment!
Balancing school and work is tough, but it comes down to managing your time and priorities. Try setting a clear daily schedule that blocks time for schoolwork, internship hours, and rest so you don’t burn out. Keep your teachers and supervisor in the loop, they may be more flexible than you think. Most importantly, check in with yourself often: if your grades or health start to slip, adjusting your hours (not quitting) can help. Remember, both your education and your internship are investments in your future, and with balance you can succeed at both.
Create a daily schedule with time blocks for school, internship, and rest.
Balancing school and work is tough, but it comes down to managing your time and priorities. Try setting a clear daily schedule that blocks time for schoolwork, internship hours, and rest so you don’t burn out. Keep your teachers and supervisor in the loop, they may be more flexible than you think. Most importantly, check in with yourself often: if your grades or health start to slip, adjusting your hours (not quitting) can help. Remember, both your education and your internship are investments in your future, and with balance you can succeed at both.
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Jennifer Vickers
Attorney
1
Answer
Alexandria, Virginia
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi Nolda! Congratulations on being so ambitious and landing such a prestigious internship opportunity. First and foremost, this is not an easy task, and the fact that you are seeking advice is admirable. I would suggest finding out if you can get credits towards graduating from your high school, meaning that you can withdraw from a class, because your school may recognize your employment as a class or credit. Also, ask yourself if you can change your daily or weekly routine to free up extra time. For instance, I dropped out of band half way through my senior year to free up time to work. But do not give up things that find you joy and relaxation, because it is easy to burnout if you don't practice self-care. Balance is important.
Another life skill, is managing upwards. You may want to consider finding time on your supervisor's schedule to talk about workload. Tell your supervisor your time commitment for school and to complete school work, and seek her advice on if you can modify your work schedule, including reducing your workload at the internship. Your supervisor may also be a source for advice, as that person has to balance their work and life as well.
Either way, do not get discouraged, balancing school work and this job will be finite. Soon you will graduate and have more time for yourself. Learning how to navigate this experience will provide you with an important life skill.
Another life skill, is managing upwards. You may want to consider finding time on your supervisor's schedule to talk about workload. Tell your supervisor your time commitment for school and to complete school work, and seek her advice on if you can modify your work schedule, including reducing your workload at the internship. Your supervisor may also be a source for advice, as that person has to balance their work and life as well.
Either way, do not get discouraged, balancing school work and this job will be finite. Soon you will graduate and have more time for yourself. Learning how to navigate this experience will provide you with an important life skill.