Late night jobs

story by Breyanna Helm

As students get older, many find their first jobs and earn their first paychecks. Some students are satisfied with one job, but others want more. Jillian Hopson, Sr., started working at Dairy Queen in July 2014 and continued to work there as she began her second job as a CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) at the Medicalodges in May of 2016.

“I manage everything pretty good. I plan to do this after high school, I want to get a job in Lawrence when I get to KU and then keep the other two jobs for scholarship money and nursing experience,” Hopson said.

Hopson works three days a week at Dairy Queen and squeezes in two additional shifts at Medicalodges. The latest she has worked has been 11 p.m. at Dairy Queen, and midnight at Medicalodges. In addition to the long hours at work, Hopson still has homework that needs to be completed each day. It is not always easy for her to find the time, but she tries to allow an hour or more for her schoolwork. She enjoys doing both because she loves the other workers at Dairy Queen and loves the residents at Medicalodges.

Kayla Flory, manager at Pie Five and Eudora alumna, hires students at around age 16 at Pie Five. She currently has 7 employed high school students and the only disadvantage are usually scheduling conflicts; and drama.

Other students only take on one job but deal with having to close late nights before school. Alaysia Baker, Sr., started working at Pie Five in May of 2016. She works on Wed., Sat., and Sun., and closes until midnight most nights. Typically, she tries to get her homework done in class but if she doesn’t succeed she usually ends up not finishing it. Baker is also in the high school musical and attends play practice on the days she doesn’t work til 8 p.m.

“I manage working late and the musical because I don’t wanna give one up,” said Baker.