By Haley Howington

The Natchez Democrat

For three local high school students, summer vacation is less about getting a tan on the beach and more about learning valuable life lessons.

Gone are the lazy mornings in bed and late nights out with friends. These local teens are punching the clock, juggling friendships, family and work and discovering the importance of responsibility and working with people.

Katie Borum, a senior from Trinity Episcopal High School says her summer job holds a special place in her heart.

Borum babysits Amelie Harris, the daughter of Lance and Nicole Harris, who also attends Trinity.

“Amelie’s parents are family friends and when they asked me to babysit for the summer I could not have been more excited,” Borum said.

Borum said she and Amelie spend most of their days doing some of their favorite activities like going to the library, playing in the park and watching movies.

Although their time together is fun, babysitting comes with its challenges, Borum said.

“I’ve learned to be more patient because I spend so much time with a child,” she said.  “I always remember she is still so young and is learning new things everyday.”

Although the job can be challenging, Borum said she enjoys the many rewards that come with the job..

“Every single morning when I come to pick her up, she sprints to me and is so excited, acting like she hasn’t seen me in so long,” she said. “That makes me feel like I am doing good in my job.”

After graduation, Borum plans to go to college and major in theatre.

Like Borum, Kelsi Cavazos is working hard this summer.

The senior at Vidalia High School works at the Vidalia Subway this summer and will continue through the school year.

Cavazos said her Mother, Crystal Anderson, is her biggest inspiration for getting a job.

“My Mom put herself through nursing school with three kids and showed us what a real work ethic is.”

Cavazos says she enjoys working at the sandwich shop. One of her favorite things about her job is customers.

“The customers are not just from Vidalia,” she said. “I like talking to all of the different people. it’s a really good experience.”

Cavazos said, while she loves meeting new people, she has learned to deal with the occasional frustrated customer.

“I maintain my composure at all cost,” she said. “If a customer is upset I have learned to always talk it out with them so we can find a proper solution to a problem.”

During the lunch rush, Cavazos said she has learned how to maintain a large crowd.

“Rush hour is great for business, but it is so hectic,” she said

Above all, Cavazos said the job at Subway has taught her the importance of hard work — lessons that she applies to her role in school and sports.

“I have a 3.9 GPA, I am in dual enrollment, I have straight A’s, and I am seventh in my class,” Cavazos said. “It takes a lot but anytime I think ‘this is too hard’ I remind myself it is better for my future and my present.”

After high school Kelsi Cavazos plans to attend Loyola University in New Orleans to study forensic psychology.

Like Cavazos, Altman Biggs is learning the value of hard work this summer.

A senior at Cathedral High School, Biggs has been a lifeguard at the Natchez Garden Club swimming pool behind the house on Ellicott Hill for the past two summers.

Biggs says his job has helped him learn the importance of responsibility and other useful skills.

“When I work a morning shift it is my responsibility to be at the pool two hours early to vacuum the pool, check the chlorine levels, and make sure everything is ready for visitors,” he said.

Becoming a lifeguard was something Biggs wanted to do at the end of his sophomore year of high school. The certification included taking a physical test.

“Just the swimming portion of the test was five laps with different strokes and it was tiring,” he said.

Although it was not a fun process, Biggs said it was definitely worth all of the hard work.

Biggs says that his job is not just to save people from drowning. It is also helping people become better swimmers.

“I have learned that if you help people who cannot swim good from the beginning, they will be at a smaller risk of drowning,” he said. “Helping kids to not be afraid of the deep end or maybe teaching techniques are some things I try to do.”

Biggs said the job has taught him how to deal with people.

“Meeting and seeing swimmers throughout the summer really helped me learn that it is important to build relationships,” he said. “The more people I meet the more people may feel comfortable at the pool.”

Biggs says that his job is not easy, but it does not stress him out.

“I like coming to work. It can be laid back but you also have to be alert so it is a happy medium,” he said.

Biggs spends his free time going to the gym or hanging out with his friends, he is also a member of the Boy Scouts. He plans to attend Itawamba Community College to hopefully become a physical therapist assistant.