Elaine Yu Yee-nee, 15, Creative Secondary School Many Hong Kong students are already overwhelmed with too much homework and tests. It's hard to see how they could squeeze in enough time for a part-time job, too. After graduation, most students will have no choice but to work hard for a living. While we are still in school, we should have the chance to enjoy some quality time. We should devote our time to doing our best in our studies and relaxing. Whether we study for an IB diploma or under the New Senior Secondary (NSS) curriculum, we are required to do lots of research and homework. School work, not part-time jobs, should be our first priority. Recently, one of my friends told me that what she feels like doing most after classes is taking a nap because she feels so drained. That should tell you that we are already overworked at school as it is. Parents may also have concerns about their children's part-time jobs. They worry their children may get hurt, be abused or cheated, or even lured into some kind of criminal activity. They might well prefer to know excactly where their children are after school. I don't deny that part-time jobs can help young people gain valuable work experience. But if they wish to do so, they should do it during their summer holiday, not after classes. It's hard enough to do well in your studies without having to work hard to prove yourself in a part-time job as well. Ronald Ling Pak-ki, 20, University of Hong Kong The obvious answer would be, 'Why not?' Parents and teachers could have many different reasons to stop youngsters from taking on part-time jobs. But they have overlooked the advantages of working part-time. There is no doubt that students should concentrate on academic work. Yet there is not necessarily conflict between academic work and part-time jobs. Student can strike a balance between school work and part-time work if they manage their time well. Part-time jobs might even help students learn how to plan their time wisely. They will learn the necessity of trade-offs in life by having to sacrifice some of their free time to do their homework. Although schools can teach students about the need for such choices, nothing works better than actual practice in making choices. In this day and age, time management skills are very important. Part-time jobs provide a good chance to develop them. In addition, employers often complain about young workers' lack of working experience and practical skills. Working part-time would be ideal for students not only to acquire hands-on experience but also to develop a healthy work attitude. Both students and society will benefit from this over the long term. Besides, working hard to make some money in a part-time job will make students realise the difficulties of earning a living. They would learn not to take things for granted. Many of them might even study harder to qualify for better jobs in future once they've tasted the bitter reality of the job market.
