It's summer and school is out. A lot of teenagers will be thinking of cool things to do this summer. If you want to earn some money and do something that will look good in your college applications, here are some jobs to consider.

The reliable baby-sitting or nanny job tops the list. If you like working with children, this is a great way to earn some spending money. You have fun hanging out with the kids and it doesn't seem like work at all. You also get to eat for free! But you better make sure to take your responsibilities seriously and respect the wishes of the parents. Don't take advantage of their generosity and clean up after any mess that you make while looking after the kids.

Inquire from your local community center or even the YMCA in your area.
They may be looking for lifeguards for the children pools (You had better know how to swim!); or, tutors or part-time teachers for kiddie summer classes. You can even use some skills that you have like playing the guitar or piano to teach the kids who wish to learn and offer lessons right in your own home.

Look at your school's bulletin board for notices of summer camps and ask the guidance counselor or the people involved if you could join them as a camp counselor or activity leader. You've been there before and could surely handle the kids with aplomb.

Some cities have summer employment programs that involve reaching out to out-of-school youth as well as children of different cultures. The work can be as simple as listening to the problems of your charges with a sympathetic ear, teaching them new songs, games and crafts, bringing the to parks and museums or giving them tutorial lessons in subjects that they are finding hard to follow. Young people are encouraged to be role models; someone that their charges can look up to and emulate.

There are also some countries, like Zambia, that have summer exchange programs for young people. The work is purely voluntary and would involve traveling to another country. Recruits get to work in orphanages and they should be physically ready for hard work as they will be expected to help in the chores at the orphanage. They should also be emotionally prepared to face the horrors and hardships that they may see in the lives of the less fortunate. Though this kind of job may entail hard work, empathy, selflessness with very minimal or no monetary remuneration at all , the emotional and spiritual rewards can be truly incomparable.

Learn more about this author, L. Beall.
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