Working and Studying: It Can Be for the Better

For some odd reason, working while being a full time college student always appealed to me, until I actually became employed.  When I finally began to work in retail at the beginning of this school year, I was very excited; I would finally be able to stop having that constant worry about money, would get time off campus, and a chance to make new friends.

Photo from Flickr.com by xb3

Yet working and getting an education simultaneously is definitely a difficult task, as I have discovered.  All of a sudden, I was having a two hour window to complete my homework, instead of a whole night. If I didn’t complete the homework in that window, I had to stay up later which resulted in constantly being ill.  Some of the difficulties definitely stemmed from the fact that I was working in a newly opened store so I was working nearly every day. My time management skills became awesome, and my agenda book became my best friend.  Yet as payroll became limited and less hours were given out, I was given more time to complete homework.  Oddly enough, it is when I have less hours of work a week that I get lower grades.

There are definitely pros and cons of embarking on this difficult task, but I would not give it up for the world.  Retail has raised my self confidence level due to constant conversations with customers, and it is given me work experience that many of my peers do not have.  Sure, retail is not where I see myself in ten years, but the more work experience, the better. In addition, I have a chance to make new friends, from different ages and backgrounds, which has widened my perspective.  Admittedly, the cons are rough: seeing on campus friends, besides roommates, is a struggle, but it can be managed with a planner on hand and strict scheduling. Also, with the constant flow of money, there is a constant output of money as well.

Undertaking what I have isn’t a task for everyone. As an English major, my workload seems to be more manageable and flexible than others, and I’m willing to give up some things for my job.  Starbucks will become your best friend, especially on those long days of class closely followed by a rush to work.  Choosing to get a job has been one of my better choices, and it is one I will be glad I made years from now.To those who think they have the time, I would definitely recommend working while in school.