This research aims to explore the dynamics of academic achievement and career development among underprivileged working students during early adolescence. The study seeks to identify the factors contributing to their academic success and career advancement, alongside examining the challenges they encounter, the skills they develop, and the support resources they utilize. A qualitative research methodology, employing thematic analysis and purposive sampling, has been selected. The study population includes lower secondary school students in Tehran who, due to financial hardships, engage in part-time employment while maintaining academic excellence. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed based on Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis framework. The primary objective is to gain a comprehensive understanding of how these students balance their educational and occupational responsibilities, the barriers they face, the supportive mechanisms they access, and the coping strategies they employ. The findings are expected to inform the design of supportive and educational interventions aimed at enhancing the academic and professional trajectories of this vulnerable population. The significance of this research lies in its focus on cultivating the future workforce and underscores the critical role of academic and career development in fostering the country’s economic, social, and cultural progress.