Should I get a smart phone?

I am a junior in high school and I currently have a flip phone as I am mostly hopeless with my friends' smartphones. I am most adept at iphones and they seem the most simple to use, but I have heard they have crappy battery life. I would use it only to make calls, maybe text a couple of people, and to check email. I am getting a job this coming fall, and my manager wants to be able to contact me at a moment's notice, since I currently don't carry my flip phone with me. I'd get the phone before the summer though, so I'd have time to get used to it. I have heard good things about the Samsung Galaxy and other Samsung phones. I want a medium phone, not too small but not huge either (maybe on the smaller side). I don't want a brand new model either, if I were to get an iphone I'd get a 4 or something.
Suggestions please? Thanks! :D