Actively Working
Active
noun, の adjective
At the present time you're providing a service, so you're actively working. 現役 means you have a certain role (such as school teacher or a high school student, etc.) and you're still active in that role, as opposed to being retired or having graduated.
This word is also often used to describe students who are taking or have passed a university entrance exam while they were still high school students.
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. You learned the readings for both of these, but 役 uses a less common reading, so here's a mnemonic to help you remember this:
You're actively working at the 駅 (えき) and you plan to remain active there forever! You sure do love that 駅, it's like you're inseparable.
現役のサラリーマン
an active office worker
現役の作家
an active writer
現役高校生
still a high school student
現役選手
an active player
現役合格
passing a college entrance exam in the final year of high school
現役時代
actively working generation
現役で入学する
to enroll in university straight out of high school
現役でプレーする
to actively play
現役で頑張る
to work hard while active
お父さんは現役のプロレスラーです。
Dad's an active professional wrestler.
このマンガの作者は、現役高校生なんです。
The author of this manga is still a high school student.
現役で大学に入学しないで、一年間海外に行こうと思うんです。
I am thinking of going overseas for a year without enrolling in college straight out of high school.