It’s the end of a year and the beginning of the best summer ever. You’ve got plans with friends and places to go but one big problem. How is a high school teenager supposed to pay for these adventures? At a certain point, parents won’t just give money to their teens and even so, every young person wants their own steady stream of cash. Many students at North Atlanta have taken the smart and responsible approach to this problem, getting a job.

First jobs are a milestone in a young adult’s life. It can be an amazing experience, but they are infamous for being the most difficult, lowest-paying, and sometimes embarrassing jobs. So where is North Atlanta’s workforce?

In your neighborhood Chick-Fil-A, you might find a friendly face. This is because the most popular summer job is frying up everyone’s favorite chicken sandwich.

Besides the free chicken and awesome uniforms, why do people flock to jobs at Chick-Fil-A? A common answer is that of junior Colleen Wong. “I applied to Chick-Fil-A to have my own source of money because I hated having to ask my parents for money,” she said.

To get the job, most people grab an application in the restaurant, get interviewed, and, if they are lucky, get hired. If this process sounds scary, anyone can take solace in junior India Coleman’s perspective. “The hiring process was long, but it’s not hard to get hired if you seem really interested,’’ she said.

One reason the job is so popular is the culture of friendliness that Chick-Fil-A has always promoted. Employees are expected to display hospitality and say things like “my pleasure” when being thanked by customers. But beyond the pleasantness, the franchise offers a good place to meet new people and build friendships with coworkers and customers. Coleman went on to express her favorite part of working there. “I liked getting free food and talking to the different people that visit Chick-Fil-A. I especially like the regulars and the interesting people that come from the hospital nearby,” she said.

With that being said, there must also be some pitfalls. Though stories of outrageous customers are not common, there is a difficult part of the workday that cashiers and baggers brace themselves for. “It’s difficult during lunch and dinner rushes when you have to serve customer after customer as quickly as possible, it gets pretty hectic,” said junior Thomas Shoup.

There’s no one experience of working at the restaurant, but North Atlanta’s fast food workers all agree that hard work pays off. The work is character building, Shoup said.

The job will also look good in the eyes of future prospective employers. “Being able to put this on my college application will show responsibility and that I have already gained some experience,” sophomore Casey Gentry said.

So if you’re in need of a few extra dollars in your pocket and want to be a part of the “chick clique,” Chick-Fil-A will be waiting with open wings.