Junior Ryan Viga is currently working three part time jobs. With school and baseball, Viga has managed his time wisely in order to balance everything out.

Viga’s three jobs are located at Bowden Manufacturing, East Coast Custard, and the Gates Mills Nature Camp.

While he started one job last summer, he began the other two more recently. “I started Bowden and East Coast Custard at the beginning of junior year,” Viga said.

Viga plays a very important part at Bowden Manufacturing. “I load parts in machines and inspect them for errors in the process. These parts are sent out to all different companies around the world,” he said.

Along with the manufacturing company, his role at the nature camp is significant as well. Viga said, “I interact with little kids by doing crafts, playing games, and supervise them on field trips.”

Many people don’t even have a job at this age but Viga believes it is helpful for experiences later on. “The real world job experience gets me prepared for what I will do after high school and college,” he said.

Additionally, these jobs help him grow as a person. “These jobs have helped me realize my best and worst qualities. Finding out these qualities helps me continue to better myself everyday in my own way,” he said.

Managing schoolwork and jobs at the same time is hard work. Viga handles this task wisely. “If I know that I will be especially busy or free for a certain day, I divide up more work for the busier day,” he said.

However, having too much on his plate occasionally creates conflicts with his sports life. “Sometimes it meant being late to a practice or game but having a job is always my first priority,” Viga said.

Junior Lexie Gephart is Viga’s girlfriend and believes that what he is doing is beneficial for his future. “I’m proud of him because he’s able to maintain all three jobs, good grades, baseball, and still have an active social life. This is setting him up for what life is like out of college, and he is going to be well prepared for whatever life throws at him,” Gephart said.

Viga’s friend, Alex Gephart, thinks that he is an inspiration. “He puts so much effort and time into his work, which is what I aspire to do in the future,” she said.