I was in a gift shop last weekend when a high school student walked up to the counter, politely introduced herself to the manager, and said:
“I really like your store and I was wondering if you might need someone to work here part-time.”
The manager invited her to fill out an application and then scheduled an interview for this Saturday. The student shook his hand, thanked him for his time, and said cheerfully, “Thank you. I’ll see you Saturday!”
Whether or not she gets the job, this experience is worth as much or more as she might get from a $7000 summer program at an Ivy League school or an expensive pay-to-play summer program that takes her to a foreign country.
This kid is learning how to approach an adult and introduce herself (you can’t text your way into most jobs). She’s showing initiative rather than waiting for her parents to do it for her. She’s filling out a job application and will soon be sitting through an interview. If she gets hired (and I’ll bet she does) she’ll learn even more.
These little lessons she’s taking in here aren’t trivial. They’ll make her even more confident and self-assured. They’ll help her get into college and succeed once she’s there. And when she inevitably goes out and makes her way in the world as a college graduate, these high school experiences will be the roots of that success.
With all the pressure surrounding college admissions today, it’s easy for families to become entirely focused on results—GPAs, test scores, accolades, awards, hours, etc. Results have their place, but don’t ignore the value of the little lessons. They’re available to any student who wants them, regardless of your test scores, talent or budget.