Work and fun intersect for this first-time employee

Veronika Berglin, 16, began scooping ice cream as her first job at the Ice Creamery, located in Silverwood Theme Park in May.

The Lakeland High School student will start the 11th grade this fall. Her favorite subject is math: She wants to attend college, possible to study architecture.

And yes, she knows precisely where.

“I want to attend Arizona State University because I want to go to school somewhere I could see myself settling down, because the friends you make in college are usually your best friends — and I don’t want to have to leave that,” Berglin said.

Human resources manager Michele Sheets said Silverwood Theme Park was a great first job because it offers young employees an up-tempo work environment, competitive pay and benefits like free season passes. Workers have the opportunity to win prizes in competition with each other.

Sheets herself had her own first job at Silverwood: She walked the ponies before Silverwood switched to the carousel.

The theme park’s employees attend Silverwood University, an eight-hour orientation that includes job-specific training. Food and beverage manager David Lee said he holds additional training classes — beginning with an introduction to commercial food and beverages — until workers obtain safe food handling certification.

Berglin applied to work at the amusement park so she could spend the summer working with her best friend. She said she is excited about the opportunity to work this summer.

“I will be working a lot, but I’m expecting a fun experience and to meet new people from around the world,” Berglin said.

Lee said he could already tell that Berglin is outgoing, consistent and enthusiastic.

Between the summer season and the Scarywood haunted house during the fall, Silverwood will employ 1,200 to 1,500 people this year.

Sheets said the park offers students flexible hours: If an employee only wants to work twice a week, managers will accommodate them.

Berglin was nervous on her first day, she said. As she continued to work, however, she realized she was surrounded by people she already knew who were working alongside her. The fun atmosphere is a draw for students, she said. And there’s this: “It pays pretty good for a 16-year-old.”