When walking into any local fast food restaurant, it’s hard not to notice how many young citizens are working registers. Students have the opportunity to work, but career choices remain narrow.

It’s important for teens in lower-level positions to recognize their own value. Teens who aren’t satisfied with their jobs cite reasons such as being treated unfairly based on their age or feeling like they have no say in their schedule. There has to be a solution.

Working for someone else isn’t always a bad thing, but through self-employment, teens can gain a sense of flexibility and opportunity that most high schoolers aren’t given at their workplace.

BV students have turned their hobbies into money-making ventures, proving that high school isn’t too early to start pursuing a passion. By starting a small business, selling creations online or providing services to others, young people can obtain valuable lessons and cater to the needs of the community while doing something they enjoy.

Running a small business while in school does have difficulties, but despite the challenges, managing schedules, setting prices and working directly with customers are invaluable lessons.

It can be difficult at times, but getting to do what we love and be in charge of ourselves is a liberating feeling that not many young people in the workforce get to enjoy. Age doesn’t have to hold us back.

It’s time to fill not just our pockets but also our hearts and minds. At this age, it might not be possible to have a “dream job,” but with a willingness to get creative and step a little outside of our comfort zones, it’s possible to build a foundation for our future.