The word “work” does not always excite or interest the young adult population of this century.

Over this summer break, some students from HBA left their favorite Hawaii beaches and entered the business world and its office spaces. Whether they dedicated themselves to unpaid internships, paid jobs, or volunteer assignments, these students got a glimpse of the adult world.

In preparation for the English Department’s England trip this fall, senior Haley Pilien says she is saving up in order to have spending money of her own and to pay for the trip’s expenses. In addition to teaching recreational gymnastics during the summer, Pilien also did prep-work at MW Restaurant in Honolulu. Pilien says, “[I] learned what it’s like to be within a hectic kitchen environment.” She added that she was able to get a few new recipes for cookies, carrot cake and graham crackers, all from scratch. Though she admits she missed out on socializing with friends over the break, she strongly encourages other students to take on the challenge and commitment of maintaining a job in preparation for their future.

Pilien’s classmate, Jordyn Wang, also worked over the summer. Wang worked alongside pediatric specialists at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. She told the Eagle Eye that she had the opportunity to learn how to dress professionally and care for disabled children. Wang also added, “I did feel like I missed out on hanging out with friends more frequently, but I also really enjoyed my time at Tripler.”

Both Pilien and Wang say they highly encourage students to look for jobs that will give them memorable experiences and aid them in the discovery of their interests and future plans.

Christian Ministries Director Rob Lockridge is all for students taking on jobs outside of school because “kids need to be active.” He notes that though it is good for students to be able to sleep in during breaks, he believes that it’s important for them to accomplish tasks. On the other hand, he points out that the trade off is that they lose valuable time with friends.

Student Services administration specialist Linda Powell and counseling secretary Kimberly Yamauchi are both parents who are all for students working summer jobs. Powell says that while students work, they learn responsibility and routines. Yamauchi puts it simply: “There are no cons.”