Wesleyan students have seized responsibilities outside of the school world balancing both their lives in the workplace and their lives in school. These part-time positions range from fast food to retail to even some medical-related jobs. Part time occupations give students a more proactive approach in preparing them for college and their lives beyond there.
Senior Jackson Taylor has worked at Chick-fil-A since his freshman year, steadily he has climbed the hierarchy at Jett Ferry Road. Starting all the way at the starting role, team member, Taylor has proven to be a very important worker and has contributed to Chick-Fil-A as a positive leader. “I have gone from a team member to Chick-Fil-A manager. I am super happy with the amount of progress I have made,” said Taylor. Now, Taylor has found a great opportunity to practice leadership through his manager position.
Along with this, jobs can help students form traits that would be less accessible through other activities, such as leadership, work ethic, and experience. Taylor said, “I have learned how to successfully run my shift, management skills, work ethic, teamwork, and communication skills.”
Junior Paxton Caldwell has been employed at a coffee shop called Dutch Bros Coffee. His main position for the store is making specialty drinks and being a reliable leader. “I contribute by keeping morale up and making drinks quickly as well as being aware of what the people around me are working on,” said Caldwell. The drink-making process can be very strenuous and stressful during rush hour periods. With large influxes of customers often coming in at once, Caldwell has learned how to multitask.
Skills learned in these jobs are crucial to later success down the road. A skill as simple as cleaning a bathroom or building something can allow students to open a gateway of knowledge that they previously lacked. When asked about what he has learned at work, Caldwell said, “I am learning leadership, communication skills, and how to prioritize tasks under pressure as well as how to make a good first impression. I want to learn how to serve the people around me the best I can.” While the experiences through sports at Wesleyan give students lots of life skills, the work environment can encourage these skills and apply them to real world situations.
One aspect of the working environment that is underappreciated is access to an entire other world that is completely different from Wesleyan. Most of the jobs that students have been employed in involve a variety of ages ranging from fourteen to sixty. These coworkers share valuable life lessons they’ve learned over the years with younger coworkers. This window of a more realistic world has provided students with a new idea of gratitude and understanding about how much they are provided for in their lives.
One part of work that both Taylor and Caldwell express, is the importance of culture. Caldwell said, “In college, I would like to continue working at somewhere like Dutch. I want to continue working at Dutch because of the positive culture and the community that I have built through my time working there.” Taylor followed up on this when he said, “I am so excited to have built these relationships with my coworkers and friends over the years.” Fostering culture in the work environment can exemplify
the importance of working.
Students gain valuable leadership opportunities and life skills that they can apply later in life by working jobs that require hard work and dedication. As jobs becoming accessible for teenagers, students at Wesleyan have taken this opportunity to become contributing members in the workplace through their qualities learned at Wesleyan. These part-time positions look amazing when applying for college and can allow students to access scholarship opportunities. For many students, the part-time job is less of a paycheck and more of a pathway into their future. Chick-Fil-A features many scholarship opportunities such as the Remarkable Futures Scholarship which rewards team members with a grant worth up to 25,000 dollars. Dutch Bros also provides employees with access to tuition assistance programs and mentorship networks, giving students like Caldwell a chance to turn after-school shifts into tangible opportunities for growth. Another note is that college counselors often note that employers’ recommendation letters can make a strong impression on admissions officers. A consistent work history shows maturity, time management, and the reliance of their character, which universities value as much as test scores. Students who balance school and work often demonstrate the independence and discipline needed to thrive on a college campus. Part-time work, scholarship opportunities, and academic achievement together form a strong foundation for success beyond Wesleyan. Students like Taylor and Caldwell are proving that effort outside the classroom can be just as meaningful as what happens within it. From managing shifts to managing time, these experiences are shaping the next generation of leaders—one paycheck and one opportunity at a time.
