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Working Teenager
Listen to this Commentary!
Zanna Watkins-Hughes
School, homework, and an active social life take up a lot of my time. When you add a job to the list, my chill time becomes almost nonexistent.
I'm Zanna Watkins-Hughes, a Junior at Grady High School with a commentary from Youth Radio.
Thanks to my work experience, I'm more mature and I've improved my social skills. As a restaurant hostess I had to be friendly and patient. I learned to be sincerely apologetic and understanding, when people complained about things that had nothing to do with me. I also began to remember the regulars, those people who came in at least once a week. Not only did I learn their names but also where they liked to sit, their pet peeves about dining, and a little something about their lives. I still use these skills, even outside of work as I meet new people.
Now, I work in retail. I still use my hostess people skills, but I also have to know my merchandise and be able to match customers with the right products. This job has taught me the importance of a professional appearance and a professional attitude.
Experiencing different jobs has been good for me. I've learned to adapt to different environments. I know now when to leave my loud playfulness at home and bring out my on-the-job etiquette. This has helped me in challenging situations, like dealing with adults. Some say I am too young to be working so hard. But I'm not too young to learn these valuable skills. And getting jobs in the future will be much easier. As for my social life, It's just as active as ever.
Youth Radio Atlanta is produced in cooperation with Grady High School, WABE-FM in Atlanta and Youth Radio in Berkeley, California.
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