During the summer before my sophomore year of college, I decided I felt ready to take on a job during the school year. I had already worked in food service for two summers but was nervous about juggling a job with the demands of an already hectic semester. Nevertheless, I decided the extra money and experience would be worth any stress – and it was one of the best decisions I've made during my time at college.

One of the most obvious benefits of working during school has been the regular paychecks. As all college students know, school is expensive – even when you have scholarships – and sometimes the money you make over the summer isn't enough to cover the costs of attending school full-time, including books, fees, tuition, and room and board. Any paychecks earned during the school year can help, not only with covering the cost of school but also with having a little extra spending money (without feeling guilty about occasionally eating out or going to the movies).

In addition, working during school has given me more experience to put on my resume. While receiving an education and maintaining good grades are certainly important, they are not all that matter when searching for post-college jobs and moving up the employment ladder. Employers take into consideration numerous factors, including the ability to serve, cooperate, and communicate with other people – skills that can be gained by having a job. The place where I work, Chick-Fil-A, especially emphasizes excellent customer service and possessing a strong work ethic, making it a valuable growth opportunity and addition to my resume.

Another benefit of holding down a job during the school year has been the way it prompts me to not waste valuable time. Free time is certainly necessary for rest and refreshment during the stress and exhaustion of school, but sometimes during my freshman year, I found myself with ample amounts of time that I didn't put to good use and didn't need in order to feel rested and recharged.

Working 10 hours per week during my sophomore year allowed me to still relax and spend time with my friends while also maintaining my productivity. In fact, I often found work to be refreshing in its own way since I felt like I accomplished something useful without stressing over grades and assignments.

In line with this, I have learned to more effectively manage my recreational time when I am neither working on assignments nor completing a work shift. Because I usually work on Saturday nights, I often end up missing out on fun activities with my friends, including football games, movie nights, or off-campus dinners. As a result, I've learned to take advantage of those times I can spend time with the people I care about, especially on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons. These times have become more special to me since they are rarer than they were during my freshman year.

Of course, holding a job during the school year isn't always easy. Nevertheless, my experience overall has made me more responsible in completing my work and managing my free time, all while preparing for my future after college.