Getting a job this summer was harder than in past years because of the coronavirus. Pools didn’t open on time and stores across the region were at limited capacity.

A summer job is an easy way to make money over the break, and it is a productive activity to do with your time. Freshman Sebastian Rodriguez was a lifeguard at Westleigh Recreation Club. Rodriguez worked three or four days a week. “Working at Westleigh was a great summer job to have and I enjoyed it a lot,¨ Rodriguez said.

Freshman Ethan Kuan was also a lifeguard, but he worked at the Rockshire pool. Kuan worked around 30 hours a week or less if he was not needed. ¨Working at Rockshire was a great summer job for me and I had a lot of fun working there,¨ Kuan said

Working as a lifeguard was a popular choice amongst students. The training and certification paid off as working with other lifeguards and making new friends is an easy way to have a fun summer.

To become a lifeguard you must become certified. The certification requires completing the online session, prerequisite sessions, and attending all course sessions. You must score a minimum of 80 percent on the Bloodborne Pathogens training instructor self-study test, the basic level administering emergency oxygen final written exam, and on the instructor course final written exam. Once the certification requirements are met, finding a pool company to work at is the next step. RVCA is a popular company students work for.

If working as a lifeguard is not for you, there are other jobs, including working at a department store. Junior Jamie Morris worked at On Cloud Nine, located in Seven Locks shopping center in Potomac over the summer. “I found the job at Cloud Nine because of my sister, and I love working there because I like the store, and it’s not a far drive from my house,” Morris said.

If working at a store, restaurant, or as a lifeguard doesn’t do it for you then you could always work for yourself. Being a babysitter is a great job to have and with the coronavirus pandemic, finding families is pretty easy because kids are always home. Being a babysitter also gives you the option to set your own rates and pick when you want to work.

Senior Jordyn Delo spent some of her summer working as a babysitter. Delo worked three times a week throughout the summer. “Babysitting was a great job for me during the summer because I could choose when to babysit and the other time I could have free time to do whatever I want,” Delo said.