[Leftcoast]

I worked bagging groceries in high school and worked on cars (and at Stanford was able to finagle some garage space from the solar car club with some friends to work on our cars). I don't think that my presence did anything for overall mental health at Stanford though. And kids who bag groceries and work on their cars are probably just as likely to have mental health problems as anyone else I would guess.

Add me to the Stanford admits who spent time bagging groceries.  In the 80s it was a union job that paid 2.5x over minimum wage making it an easy choice when I needed a job.  I even went back for several months the summer of my freshman year.  My Stanford Sophomore summer on I worked on internships or TA positions instead but I enjoyed bagging groceries much more than you might think and high school me enjoyed the paychecks even more.   (Actual job title, "Courtesy Clerk").

For comparison purposes let's look at modern day wages.  Minimum wage in my area is $15/hr so if grocery stores still paid 2.5x for Courtesy Clerks, which they DO NOT, courtesy clerks would be pulling in $37.50/hr.  

I still had time for AP classes, extra curricular activities, school, a minimal social life, and a job but my family didn't see me much.  Hopefully there's still a place at Stanford for kids who do more than obsess over grades.

[Leftcoast]

I worked bagging groceries in high school and worked on cars (and at Stanford was able to finagle some garage space from the solar car club with some friends to work on our cars). I don't think that my presence did anything for overall mental health at Stanford though. And kids who bag groceries and work on their cars are probably just as likely to have mental health problems as anyone else I would guess.

Add me to the Stanford admits who spent time bagging groceries.  In the 80s it was a union job that paid 2.5x over minimum wage making it an easy choice when I needed a job.  I even went back for several months the summer of my freshman year.  My Stanford Sophomore summer on I worked on internships or TA positions instead but I enjoyed bagging groceries much more than you might think and high school me enjoyed the paychecks even more.   (Actual job title, "Courtesy Clerk").

For comparison purposes let's look at modern day wages.  Minimum wage in my area is $15/hr so if grocery stores still paid 2.5x for Courtesy Clerks, which they DO NOT, courtesy clerks would be pulling in $37.50/hr.  

I still had time for AP classes, extra curricular activities, school, a minimal social life, and a job but my family didn't see me much.  Hopefully there's still a place at Stanford for kids who do more than obsess over grades.