Despite the major inconvenience of hand-delivering 4,000papers last month, there was an upside: the paper benefited from the support of community members across the age spectrum who stepped up to help . Fortunately the weather was lovely, so volunteers delivering in town or driving through the municipality did not have to contend with bad weather.
Some of the younger helpers seemed to receive a boost from the responsibility they were given. It reminded me of how difficult it is for young people to find jobs these days. For most adults, a part-time job was an almost universal experience during high school, and for some informal employment like babysitting, grass cutting or snow shovelling began even earlier. Headlines last summer indicated that even for university students, getting a summer job was challenging. Given the rising cost of post-secondary education, these students need income to avoid accumulating significant student debt levels.
But having a job is not just about earning money- there are many other benefits to having responsibilities outside the home. Jobs teach interpersonal skills like time management, following instructions, being reliable, dressing appropriately, accepting direction and even using work-appropriate language. Having responsibilities can also build self-esteem.
Young people need work experience. Let’s find ways to give them responsibility so they are better prepared to face a future unlike the ones we faced in the past where jobs were plentiful. We need to equip our youth with skills to build a competitive economy. Our nation depends on it.