By Catherine Jou ‘15

The profile of the typical student is changing as more students get jobs during the school year and still manage to balance their academic and social lives. With an array of options available, Sherwood students find ways to schedule jobs into their lives.

Senior Jessi Alperin works 9 hours a week babysitting. She is also a member of National English Society, French Honor Society and National Honor Society and likes to write and do photography on her own time.

“I babysit for about 8-10 different families but only one consistently three times a week,” said Alperin. Although she usually goes to bed around 11:30 or 12 on school nights, on the weekends when she is sitting, she stays up later until the families come home, which is not until 1 a.m. in some cases.

Alperin is involved in the musical, dinner theater, the play, and Rock ‘n’ Roll, which occupies about 90 percent of her time. Since she is so involved in after-school activities she worries about losing her clients. “If you say no because you’re busy, you risk losing your job. Because I do the musical, I end up losing a lot of time … I’m always really worried that my clients aren’t going to want to hire me again for babysitting because I have such a busy schedule,” said Alperin.

Despite this she is still able to maintain her job, do well in school and have a social life. Alperin balances school work by taking more APs. She said, “You’re not going to believe me but taking more APs equals less homework. If I wasn’t taking four APs last year I would have had so much homework and I would have never had any time for weekends … usually [AP] homework’s just outlining. Then you end up having more time since you just have to do the outline and don’t have three worksheets and a book to read.”

Senior Brenden West works 20-25 hours a week at Ledo Pizza. West is on the wrestling team and in Knitting for Humanity. He also enjoys taking mixed martial arts classes and hanging out with friends and he occasionally shoots at a gun range. Besides the benefits of getting paid West is saving up money to buy a car.

While “work definitely takes up my time” said West, he manages to do activities and academic work by doing his school work in advance, so he can hang out with friends on the weekends. West suggests not to work too late on school nights. Some insightful tips from West on doing well in school and having a social life while managing a job are to, “Stay on top of your school work; make time for yourself and life; don’t work too many hours,” said West.

Senior Maryann Agnello is completing the Medical Careers Pathway and is in National English Honor Society. She works around 12-14 hours a week as a pharmacy clerk at Giant. Even with a job she still has a balanced life. Since she has a half day schedule, she is able to finish her homework before she goes to work and so she doesn’t have to stay up later than usual.

“I try to stay ahead in my classes and not procrastinate because I know that spare time will pay off in the end,” explained Agnello while advising students. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help from teachers and friends. Don’t stress the small stuff.”