After months and months of sitting at a hard wooden desk with a cold seat, the sun is out! You don’t have to listen to teachers speak of dull lessons that you probably won’t ever use again, you don’t have to waste time indoors doing worksheets of problems you don’t understand, and most importantly you don’t have to be bound by rules 7 hours a day. You’re free for the next 3 months… or are you? It appears that you once wished to grow up and now your wish is granted! It’s time to get a job!

I understand that some people are forced to do work, and I understand that it sucks to be there when you’re tired, to work for hours, but you can’t waste your time just doing nothing. I admit working/volunteering has its flaws and some experiences are in fact better than others. Honestly, not all customers are nice to employees and many people are often prejudiced and rude, bosses can either be completely sweet or a living hell, and sometimes you have to cancel plans just to work a shift. The truth is, life isn’t perfect and nothing is ever perfect, so get over it.

You’re probably rolling your eyes at me and if you’re still reading this then congratulations, you’re not completely lazy. Having a great responsibility like this can help you develop skills such as planning, time management, and budgeting. I mean you get to have a sense of achievement for not wasting your life. Besides, can we talk about the real benefits of working? You get paid! Aren’t you tired of asking your friends to come through with money and feeling like you owe them or having to beg your parents for just five dollars so you can get food at a Taco Bell or McDonald’s?

Some of you may not know where to start or are just too lazy to even find a starting point. I’m going to tell you where to start and you’re going to decide if you’re willing to leave your bedroom.

1. You can always start by visiting the website of where you want to work.
2. Search if you can submit an application online, if not then you’ll probably have to go over there and get an application.
3. Once you receive an application, fill it in with your best handwriting and please don’t make any mistakes (if you need a recommendation, you can ask a teacher).
4. Submit the application and give them a week or two to call, if you don’t hear back make a followup call yourself.
5. Once they call for an interview all you have to do is dress nicely, show up, and hope for the best.

Now signing up for volunteering is a bit simpler, all you have to do is:

1. Search for a volunteering website such as Volunteermatch.com, Teenlife.com or Justserve.org
2. Make an account if needed.
3. After making an account, look at their volunteering opportunities in your area and sign up.
4. Now all you need to do is show up!

Volunteering or getting a summer job is a great way to gain work experience for the future, develop your skills and build future employment contacts (called networking) not to mention that by the end of summer you won’t feel like you wasted three months of your life doing nothing! You don’t even have to wait till summer starts to volunteer, why not start now?