<p>I've worked two jobs during my senior year of high school, and I'm supposed to keep working both this summer, but I want some time to myself before I leave for college. Right now, I work about 20 hours at a local independent cinema- great job, lots of fun, not going to quit. I also work several hours a week as a secretary at a laboratory, a job I took primarily so I could be associated with the lab in the future. My boss at the lab asked me to stay on full time for the summer, but I worked it down to 4 days a week, 2 as a secretary, 2 in a lab... but I really hate working as a secretary. Really, really hate it. I don't want to arrive at college burnt out, but I feel stupid throwing away an opportunity to work in a lab even for 2 days a week. I can't tell if the secretary work is worth it-- any advice? Help, please!
Thanks</p>
<p>I don't think being affiliated with the lab is going to make that big of a difference for you. I know a few people that say they had "internships" doing research at local labs in high school, but to be quite honest, I doubt employers would think you did anything meaningful in those types of things (in any lab, you need a PhD to do meaningful research full-time and at least a BS/BA to support that research, with people currently pursuing a BS/BA [interns] supporting the current BS/BAs who are supporting the PhDs. Maybe I'm missing something, but where does a high-school educated kid fit in there?).</p>
<p>Have you tried asking the lab guys if you can just stay on for those 2 days in the lab but not as a secretary? From what you are saying you really don't want to be there doing that, so **** it. It's your last summer before college, what you do before college is hardly going to be meaningful once you are in college, and you don't really want to do it.</p>