Some seniors’ daily tasks consist of working hard at school in the daytime and effectively at their jobs in the night to balance both commitments. For the first Senior Features of second semester, employed seniors take the spotlight!

Reenie Cao — Interesting things you’ve learned while on the clock?

“I have to speak a lot in Mandarin because most of the people who come [to the Formosan Restaurant] are Chinese or Taiwanese. So I think my Mandarin has definitely improved a lot, especially since I know a bunch of dish names now. Then also I see a lot of people I know, so it’s fun. I feel like it’s two different environments, like at work versus where they know me.”

AJ Esteves — Advice for underclassmen looking for jobs?

“Honestly, when you first start looking for a job, it’s going to be really, really hard because no one wants to just hire anyone. No one wants a high schooler. I think the only reason I started working at my job, [On the Hook,] was because it’s family-owned and it’s my family that owns it. I actually got one of my friends hired there. I feel like connections are the biggest thing because if you have connections if your friends get a job, it’s a lot easier because they can just recommend you. But just applying on Indeed is really not going to get you far. You have to make an impression and go put yourself out there and talk to people and physically hand in your resume, introduce yourself, everything. You have to make a really big impression.”

Although plagued with daily battles against senioritis, these seniors come out unscathed and are ready to tackle their real-world responsibilities.