Does she look back fondly on that experience?
Like, if you ask her, would she say she preferred doing that over normal 16 yr old things like studying, hanging with friends, or doing sports?
My guess is that it would be a bittersweet or poor memory for her, and that given the choice she would have preferred to not have to work at a bar at 16.
Note: IM NOT SAYING she shouldn’t have had a job if she wanted one. Having a job as a teen teaches you a lot of things and prepares you for a “real job” in a low risk environment.
Myself, I worked at a pool first teaching lessons, then becoming a lifeguard when I was old enough. I was on the swim team so I was already there for 2-3 hours per day during the week, and hung around most of the day all summer anyway, so getting paid to do stuff I was already comfortable doing was not a stretch.
I gained valuable skills, I know CPR, Rescue breathing, first aid skills, how to deal with neck/back injuries, etc. I also had fun working in an environment where I could have friends and peers all going thru the same life experiences.
I am just concerned that this kind of environment doesn’t exist in a bar in Wisconsin.
She did those things too. It was a small town.
She worked 2 nights a week and made extra cash, plus got bartending experience. Really not a big deal.
Teens working isn’t inherently exploitation. Some people don’t mind 8hrs/week as a teenager. On the other hand, I did. No fuckin way I was working.
