Is the minimum wage for a 17-year-old fair? Honestly, it depends on who you ask. A restaurant owner might say it’s a starter wage, a chance to learn. A 17-year-old with rent to pay might say it’s a joke. The truth lies somewhere in the middle, like a soft-serve ice cream cone that’s melting faster than you can eat it.
The good news is, this phase is temporary. You will not be 17 and making $7.25 forever. You’ll get older, get a better job, and look back on these days with a mixture of cringe and nostalgia. You’ll tell stories about the time you had to choose between gas and a burrito.
So, if you’re a 17-year-old reading this, just know this: you are not alone. The system is awkward, the pay is laughable, and the customers can be exhausting. But you are building something. You are building a bank account, a work ethic, and a very, very thick skin. And that, my friend, is worth more than six extra dollars an hour.
