Not all of us had the privilege of receiving scholarships that paid off the majority of our schooling, or come from families that could afford to fund all of our years of higher education. I get it. Times have been hard, so some of us have to work. Which isn't an entirely bad thing. There are many mental and physical benefits to working...in retail, that is. Yes, retail has actual benefits. Here are three things that I have and still do take advantage of, and so should you!

1. Student Benefits

Better believe I found this one because

Yeah, your job might suck, but sometimes they do have the best interest for their workers. Maybe they didn’t tell you, maybe you were halfway asleep through the orientation and missed it, who knows. However, if you go to the company’s website you could stumble across all types of stuff that could benefit you. For example, some companies offer tuition reimbursements to college students that work for them. You might wanna check that out.

2. Social Benefits

Whether you realized this or not, many college students are socially awkward. Very socially awkward. So socially awkward, it makes some of us cringe. You get the point.

The thing is, as our personalities/minds grow and shift, we have a hard time finding a stable ground for what we say. We’re always thinking about what’s appropriate for the situation at hand, how to read people’s emotions, or just have a fear of conversation. That’s where working somewhere where you are in constant contact with people can benefit you.

It's all about learning to adapt. You will meet people who will come up to you with different moods, opinions, and approaches that will help you build your personality. In these people, you will see yourself. Not literally, but how they respond will let you know if what you said, the tone, and expression behind it was successful. So just relax and don't think about it too hard. Soon you'll notice how charismatic you can really be. Besides, what's life without those embarrassing moments? Too easy and boring.

There’s a saying somewhere about how, the more you do something the better you get at it. Keep hope alive.

3. DI$COUNT$

When applying for jobs, one thing I always do is look for places that pay well. That, and places that I feel could benefit me as well. Whether it be a clothing store, grocery store, or nail salon, you should always look for the benefits from your job. Not only can they save you money, but they can make going to work an enjoyable experience. Ask your employer about employee benefits and discounts, ASAP. But keep in mind that just because that skirt, graphic tee, or box of Pop Tarts is given to you at a discounted price does not mean that you need it.

Working in retail isn’t all that bad. You just have to dig through all of the bad stuff to find the gold. That’s not only useful for this situation, but for almost any situation. Now, go and be great. Most importantly, take advantage of all the benefits you could get your hands on, both mental and physical.