Summer jobs help teens with college expenses, experience for future

The tests are graded, books turned in, and area high school students are now looking forward to a summer of work.

Sure, there will be some days of fun and relaxation, but many students seek jobs to earn money either to buy something they're saving up for or to put away for college.

Some job openings from local businesses are posted on school bulletin boards. Mostly the students get their jobs by answering ads and filling out job application forms.

"We have a lot of individuals looking for child care in the summer, parents who want someone to come in their home for the day," said LaDonna Pratt, counselor at Scott City High School. "It's a small town; that plays a big role in those calls."

Some students find a way of combining work and recreation by working for the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department at the city's swimming pools, selling concessions, or working with summer workout and fitness programs and summer camps.

Zack Martin, 16, of Cape Girardeau, has grown up participating in activities planned by the parks and recreation department.

Martin, who just finished his sophomore year at Central High School, has taken his first summer job with the parks department. He will work with 2- to 5-year-olds in the peewee gym, and in the weight room of the Osage Community Centre. Martin, who says he enjoys being around little children, wanted to work for the peewee gym.

"The weight room got assigned to me," he said.

Students also take jobs to help prepare themselves for future careers.

Lauren Froemsdorf, 18, a senior at Jackson High School, will spend this summer working for Just Kids Day Care in Jackson. Froemsdorf has been accepted in the College of Nursing at Southeast Missouri Hospital, and wants to be either an obstetric or pediatric nurse. Since her last summer job was selling snow cones at Arena Golf, she said she wanted something more in tune with her future plans.

"I think it will give me insight into children's behavior," she said. "It's going to be fun. I enjoy being around kids, and we will be outside. I'll get to enjoy the same summer activities they will."

Sometimes students work to have something to do, like Alicia Obermann, 18, who recently graduated from Scott City High School. Obermann plans to study journalism at Southeast Missouri State University in the fall, and for the summer she'll scoop ice cream at the Ice Cream Corner in Scott City to have extra money for college expenses. A summer job keeps her busy, but not so busy she won't enjoy summer fun.

"I like the flexibility," she said. "It's summer time and there are several things students want to do during summer vacation. It's flexible because you work the amount of hours you want to work."

Trey Crump, 18, another Scott City graduate, will continue to work at a local grocery store as he has done after school, and during the summer he also puts his enjoyment of being outdoors and around animals to good use by working on a farm feeding and caring for cattle.

"There's always something different and you're always outside," Crump said. "It's fun, and it pays pretty good. It's not boring as long as you don't mind hard work."

Crump, who plans to major in art but hasn't decided where, said he looks at summer employment as a way to develop responsibility. Obermann said she is learning to manage her time. Martin, who plans to major in business at Southeast in a couple of years, is looking forward to learning how to work with a boss and with other employees, and to adjust to living on a schedule -- "regular stuff you have to have when you have a job," he said.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160

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Many area employers are adding students to their payrolls this summer. But students need to be mindful of what they can and can't do.

At Target, a clothing and merchandise store in Cape Girardeau, human resources director Debbie Marshall said, "We always hire students over the summer. But there are rules and restrictions. We have a corporate rule that high school students have to be out of the building by 10 p.m."

Marshall said the store closes at 10, but other, older employees often stay later to stock shelves and clean up.

In February, the U.S. Department of Labor implemented changes to employment rules for youths working in a variety of occupations. One rule permits 16- and 17-year-olds to load, but not operate or unload, certain waste-material baling and compacting equipment.

But Marshall says no one under 18 can operate the store's baler or compactor.

At Buchheit, a home improvements and agricultural supplies store in Jackson, human resources manager Jill Spooler said she recently hired six teenagers for the summer.

"We let people who are 16 and 17 be cashiers, but to drive a forklift a person has to be 18 or older," she said.

Another federal rule prohibits 14- and 15-year-olds from performing any baking.

Jerry Sher, manager of Taco Bell in Jackson, said the restaurant usually hires students age 16 or older. "We hire high school and even college students during the summer. We give them instructions in safety. We don't want any accidents in the kitchen or other areas."

Wal-Mart Supercenter in Cape Girardeau plans to hire high school and college students this summer, beginning June 1.

"We don't have any teenagers working here yet," said spokeswoman Tara Stewart. "But we hire every year."

Stewart said the youths will be trained in safety, on how to lift and carry objects, and company rules and regulations.

EDCO Construction Co., parent company of Drury Co. in Cape Girardeau, plans to hire some youths this summer. Company president Chester Reed said most of the current full-time employees are skilled workers and many belong to unions, but there will be openings for part-time workers.

"We have some light maintenance work that students can do," said Reed. "There will be lawn-care jobs that need to be done, and we'll need some warehouse help."

Brian Horrell is hired by the Chaffee Parks Department to maintain five ballfields in the city. Every year he hires two students to help him.

"This summer I'll have a freshman and a junior on our three-man crew," said Horrell. "The hours will vary, but we'll usually spend six days a week fixing up the ballfields for all the softball and baseball leagues. There's no heavy equipment involved, so safety is not a problem."