Students balance full credits hours, jobs

At the end of the semester, students are catching a bus from the library to class and even trying to fit holiday shopping in. But some students are even running to make it to work on time.

Even though classes are enough to keep most students busy, many add a part-time job of 10 to 12 hours a week to their schedules, said Lou Ann Hanson, associate director of the Career Development Center.

Freshman Jessica Upshaw works 14 to 30 hours a week at Center Catering Services to help pay for college and make some extra spending money.

“Sixty percent of my check goes to my savings account for college tuition, and 40 percent of it is mine,” Upshaw said.

Similarly, sophomore Lydia Wells, an Eigenmann Eatery employee, is trying to establish her credit score so that she can get loans to help pay for her tuition.

“Without this job, I’d have to go to IUPUI,” Wells said. “I want to stay down here for my own sanity. I don’t want to live at home.”

Having a job while attending college has many perks. Students make their own money and have extra cash to spend.

“I pay for my material items and reward myself every so often,” said sophomore Erin Smith, an employee of McAlister’s Deli.

Jobs are more than a source of income. By maintaining a job, students will learn how to manage their time, improve planning and investigative skills, assume responsibility, work better with others and gain customer service skills, Hanson said.

“Even if a job is not directly related to your future goal, it can serve as a valuable reference,” Hanson said. “Customer service skills are transferable no matter what you do.”

Organizations on campus, such as the Student Recreational Sports Center, Residential Programs and Services, the IU Auditorium, libraries, University Information Technology Services and the Indiana Memorial Union, all require interaction between employees and customers.

“My job has made me more patient with others,” said junior Nichole Denham, an employee of Wright Food Court.

The balance between work and school can be complicated, but many college students master it.

Students with jobs exceed or perform at the same level academically in comparison to their non-working counterparts, Hanson said.

Even though working students manage to keep on top of their classes, obstacles exist.

“It’s hard to stay in extracurricular groups because I can’t always make it to the meetings,” Upshaw said. “It’s hard to see teachers during their office hours because I’m working. It’s annoying that after I’m done with work, I need to go do my homework. Also, because I have to work, I can’t go home as often as I’d like.”

Working students must give up small pleasures such as watching their favorite TV shows.

“I have to sacrifice watching ‘The Hills,’ and since I work on Sundays, I can’t watch the Colts,” Denham said.

Even though having a job is a time commitment, many end up enjoying what they do.
“The more you enjoy your job, the less it seems like work,” Hanson said. “It all depends on your attitude and perception.”