Summer doesn’t mean carefree days ahead for Diana Trinh.
Trinh, a recent graduate of Robinson Secondary School, already a full-time job lined up. She's even backed out of a family trip so she can concentrate on it.
"I work nine-to-five, five days a week. I've got a nice cubicle. I canceled my vacation, I'm trying to save some money for college," she said.
Trinh was involved in marketing at Robinson and that's what her new job will entail. It keeps her happy, even though her parents aren't happy she's dropping out of the family trip to Canada later in the summer.
"Marketing, that's what I like. They [parents] don't really like it, I'm skipping my family vacation," she said.
Many teens, like Trinh, are contemplating a summer spent working, while others are enjoying time away from school books and classrooms.
MICHELE SHADISH WILL spend her summer at work. For Shadish, that means not just one, but two part-time jobs, one at her father's pool and spa company and the other at the Solar Planet in Springfield. "I work a lot of hours. I'm trying to get an Eclipse or Cougar," she said.
Orianna Bilby will be a junior at George Mason in the fall, and is working at Macy's. "I think getting out of debt is my priority," she said.
Sophia Talukder, 16, likes her freedom and will take advantage of the summer to learn some art skills. "I'm going to art school, I don't work," she said, matter-of-factly.
Talukder’s friend Diana Luong looks forward to a trip later in the summer and is holding down a part-time job to pay for it. She looks over her schedule: "Work and go to California for two weeks," she said.
Fairfax Station resident Cheryl Ogletree has a relaxing summer to look forward to as well. "I'm just lounging this summer, going to the beach. I was going to [work] but I decided not to," she said.
Rich Crowley, coordinator of Guidance and Career Services for Fairfax County Public Schools, sees nothing but positives from summer employment. "It helps them learn discipline. Parents are faced with what are these kids going to do all day," he said.
SPRINGFIELD COUNTRY CLUB has semi-seasonal popularity, hiring about 20 teens a season, according to general manager Brian Maloney. Although it is a recreational atmosphere, he expects stringent work standards.
"Most of them work part time," he said. Still, "we have an operation to run. We have the same expectations for them [teenagers] as the rest of our employees."
For a couple current country club employees, summer jobs turned into full-time work. "The girl in the office started as a bus girl, and now she's running the office downstairs. We had a kid that started as a cart boy and is now a pro at another club," Maloney said.
Adrienne Helms is the assistant manager at the club pool. She will be a sophomore at George Mason University next year, and also works at Fast Eddies billiards in Springfield. "I'm paying for everything this year," she said, including credit cards, tuition, rent and cell phone — all elements of the real world that are new to her.
Jen Dias, 16, is a lifeguard and has "real world" responsibilities too. "My mom wanted me to work. I have to pay for car insurance," she said. Dias has friends that aren't working, but she likes the freedom with her own paycheck. "They're spoiled. We don't have to ask our moms for money and stuff," she said.
Susan Conant, mother of Stephanie, 14, and Jennifer, 15, feels indifferent about her teens working in the next few years. On one hand, they'll learn responsibility, she said. But on the other, they will miss camps and activities that might look good on their college applications, as well as missing quality time with the family on vacation.
"I've gone back and forth on it. It's good for them to have responsibilities before college, be responsible to pay for some of their expenses," she said. As far as the family vacations, "she won't have that many more opportunities."
CROWLEY NOTED THAT many college admission offices look for histories that include activities like summer employment. "There are a lot of enrichment activities out there. The key is they show something productive," he said.
In late spring, high school career centers are a source for student employment according to Crowley.
"The career centers at the high schools will often have lists of jobs for the summer," he said.
At Springfield Mall, there are job listings at the information desk on the first level by the carousel and at the Rest Stop on the second floor by Macy's
Not all work consists of drudgery and watching the clock. Patrick White, a Northern Virginia Community College student during the school year, stood behind the counter in Fusion, an alternative apparel store in Springfield Mall, decked out in a t-shirt, baseball cap, hemp necklace and five earrings in one ear. Hip-hop blared from the stereo.
"I love this place. All my friends work here," he said. "It's a really easy atmosphere to work in. I meet a lot of cool people that come in here."
Springfield resident Jeremy McCain recently got out of Lake Braddock Secondary School with a summer ahead, goals to achieve but no job. He wants to work 40-hours a week.
Mean Mak, who went to Washington-Lee High School in 2001 but is now enrolled at Arlington Mills, an adult education facility, looks at his job running the carousel in Springfield Mall as an alternative to vagrancy. He's had brushes with the law in the past. "Keeps me out of trouble," he said.