While many Mount Carmel students seek jobs during the summer, they often are difficult to find. Even for those who are successful, the summer jobs often lack challenge or are just plain boring. So as summer is just around the corner, The Caravan posed the question, “What would be your ideal summer job?”

Mount Carmel senior Jose Moreno is an avid gamer who would enjoy working at a store like Game Stop. He thinks it would be a great way to connect with fellow gamers and both give and take recommendations about the latest popular games. “By learning what (others) use and what they play, I’ll get to know what gaming is really all about.”

In contrast to the inside work Moreno seeks, sophomore Arturo Marin would love to be outdoors.  There are numerous local parks near his home, and Marin thinks it would be an opportunity to interact with the neighborhood while still remaining active. “I’d be getting paid to be outside all day, and who doesn’t like to be outside during the summer when the whole block is out having a great time.” While working in a park may not be especially challenging, “it’s a fun experience for a teen.”

Phillip Annor, a junior at MC, also would a job that involves interaction, would like to experience the restaurant business. He’d love to be around food all day – although he’d be unable to eat most of the food he’s serving. But working as a waiter he’ll be able to “build relationships with people of all ages” because you never know who’s gonna be next to walk in that door.

Senior Javier Correa is actually already living out his ideal summer job. He’s a lifeguard for Whiting, Indiana’s beach. Correa loves his job and everything that comes with it. Correa understands it’s an important job with many responsibilities, the most important of which is keeping patrons safe from drowning. But besides that heavy responsibility, he asks “Who else gets to say they get paid to tan, workout, be at a beach and watch or swim with people? Not many can say that, but I can.”

My ideal summer job would be to intern as an entrepreneur. I want to experience the late night hours and early mornings required just to close a deal and understand the game plan on how to approach a situation. If I could spend time with someone who’s on the journey to success and has a successful mindset, that energy would rub off. I’d even like to see them at their most frustrated and stressed moments, rather than just the glory. There’s alot of things school can’t teach, but hanging with someone who has already experienced both failure and success I’d sure absorb that knowledge like a sponge.

In my experience, those who think teens just want to sleep-in or hang with their friends during the summer are wrong.  There are plenty of us teens out there who are seeking their ideal summer job. It’s just a matter of finding it.