Several students at Berkeley High School have or have had jobs that teach them how to work well with kids. These jobs range from working over the summer at day cares, to volunteering in after school programs and camps, to baby-sitting after school. Not only do these activities provide children with fun or education, but they also create an enriching experience for high school students too.
“It helps (teenagers) build another skill,” said BHS freshman Pablo Furstenfeld Silan. Furstenfeld Silan discussed how some students may be trying to pursue a career that involves working with kids and jobs like these are a step in the right direction.
Some students shared how by the end of the day they might be exhausted, but being with kids makes their day feel meaningful.
“There was this one girl who … really (wanted to do) the monkey bars on her own, but she needed help at the start, so I would help her, and then eventually she was able to do it on her own,” said BHS freshman Kailey Robinson.
Robinson recalled how after this, every time the girl finished the monkey bars by herself, she would excitedly announce this accomplishment to her. When working with kids, even helping with small things can make all the difference. According to Julia Segre, a senior at BHS, the high school students that helped and connected with her when she was in middle school were incredibly impactful in shaping who she is today.
Haley Matthes-Davis, a senior at BHS, shared how she felt after a day of working with kids while she coached gymnastics.“(I felt) fulfilled because I did something not for myself, but for somebody else,” Matthes-Davis said.
Some students may say that they don’t like working with kids since they are too messy or too energetic. Jackie Overlid, the librarian and media specialist at Washington Elementary School, discussed the rewards that come with working with kids despite these challenges.
“I think that it’s a great way to figure out what kind of jobs you want to do,” Overlid said. Overlid shared how Washington Elementary provides students with opportunities such as volunteering in school events as well as being an after school tutors to help kids in all subjects. This creates a space for high school students at BHS to interact with kids in a way that could help them decide if they want to pursue a career in education.
“We love having (high school students), and the kids love seeing the big kids … seeing (the kids) light up … like (they’re) the coolest people ever,” Overlid said.
High school students, being at a closer age to children than teachers are, can have a different type of connection with younger kids that teachers are unable to create. According to Sachi Chakko, a freshman at BHS, the age difference not being as significant creates a space that lets kids open up in ways they wouldn’t with older adults.
Although it may be exhausting at times, the experience of working with kids is something so much greater than some students can imagine.
“I think that a sense of empathy is really, really important for us as a society,” Overlid said. She explained how high school students through watching and mentoring the children often build both strong connections with the kids and develop an even stronger of a sense of empathy.
Various students have said that working with kids has greatly improved their ability to work with others, solve problems, and develop patience. Robinson reflected on the experience of herself and her colleagues after working at Rosa Parks Elementary School over the summer.
“I feel we had all grown in some way, having more compassion and being able to handle conflicts better,” Robinson said.
Even if students working in childcare don’t become educators or work with kids in the future, they’ll still have learned valuable skills. Being able to handle conflicts in a way that makes all sides feel heard is something most careers will require in some way.
As for students who do enter this career path, early childcare jobs can be eye-opening. According to Overlid, she first started out as a camp counselor and babysitter, and it wasn’t until around college that she realized that not everybody felt the same sense of importance with working with kids as she did. This epiphany is what led her to the career she has today.