Lifes Not Cheap

Life is not cheap. Everything has its price tag; even those necessities that we just simply cannot live without. Whether you are looking to buy a tube of toothpaste, a bar of soap, a carton of milk or even a new pair of underwear that tiny price tag that we are all too familiar with is always leering around close by. I am sure that we can all agree that life is much simpler, less stressful and far more enjoyable when we have the money to spend on these inevitable necessities and desired luxuries.

For teenagers however, their list of “necessities” is quite lengthy. It could literally mean a life or death situation (they believe) for some if they are not among the totally trendy that always have the latest, most popular, and through supply and demand, the most expensive products on the market. Teenagers are trendsetters; this is the reason why marketers focus the majority of their money and efforts on hooking this specific target group.

Besides being trendsetters, the majority of teenagers are continuously striving for individuality, acceptance and freedom; we want to be trusted and given responsibility. Like everyone, I got a job merely in order to earn a little extra money for myself, but along the way I was also able to fulfill a need I had for all of these things. I felt that it was time I gave my parents’ wallets a rest (so did they) and start earning some real money on my own. When someone puts in the hours and time themselves the money they earn becomes more valuable. It is no longer automatically provided whenever a new want or need arises; it has to be gained through work.

Not long after having a job, I realized that an adult’s immediate reaction to a teenager with a job is slightly different to his or her own reaction to the idea. For most teens it provides them with their longing independence, extra spending money and new found friendships; but for an adult it is more of a responsibility thing. Both views, however are positive and help to boost self esteem.

Teamwork is essential in a work environment. In order to be successful, and have fun at the same time everyone must work together in order to complete any job. From first hand experience I have realized that the retail world can be a hectic, demanding, and frustrating environment to work in; but there are also many perks that go with it as well (commission being one of them). Not only are teamwork skills learned, but also improved people skills, knowledge of the business world, the wants and needs of consumers and along with all of this comes a great deal of responsibility.

Starting a new job is not easy, because no one likes to be the “new guy”. When a new job is first taken on you generally are unsure of how to do things, while everyone else around you does. However, this feeling does not last forever and with time you grow and learn