Omar Saquisili is a senior and since his sophomore year, he has been a chess coach at a company that teaches children how to play chess after school. He is also helping to coach the newly formed chess club at Pace.
This interview has been edited and condensed.

What’s the most interesting thing at your job?

The most interesting thing is probably the lessons and seeing how the kids are growing and how they keep getting better every week.

What’s your least favorite thing about your job?

My least favorite thing is probably the travel and how late I am coming home. On some days I’ll get home at 8:00 or 9:00.

How do you balance this with school?

That was hard because I’ve been working there for two years now. During sophomore year, it was more difficult because I didn’t know how to balance school and work, but I think junior year, I focused more on my grades and prioritized school moreover work and just not doing assignments. So, I think just completing your assignments and staying up late is gonna help you.

Besides money, what have you gained from having this job?

I appreciate my teachers more because now, I consider myself a teacher. I know how frustrating it can be when the students either don’t listen to you or they can be rude.

How did you get this job? Like, how did you find it?

My brother worked at the company and once I trained, they needed people. He recommended me and since he has a good reputation there they hired me.

How are the people you work with?

They’re much older than me, so when they hear about my age they’re like, “Whoa. how are you working and stuff?” Sometimes it does get difficult since they are older and they expect to take the lead on things. Overall, it’s been fun working with them.

Do you see yourself in this job far in the future?

I think definitely during college, but post-college I want to pursue law. So, that would be my career and it wouldn’t be teaching chess.