This week has been one of the busiest ones I have experienced in a long time. I have a job on campus through my school, Montclair State, at the Student Recreation Center. I work there as a lifeguard and a swim lesson instructor on the weekends for young kids. This is my second year there.
Every year we are required to go to a mandatory training week (it's really 4 days) to be trained in our position. At the end of the training week, there is a banquet just for the professional staff and student employees (and there's raffles!). All the new hires and returners go to this. It's always a great week to start off the academic year.
I always recommend people to get a job on campus, because like me, you meet so many new people and are automatically connected. These are the four reasons why getting a job on campus is a good idea.
1. Free stuff
With college being so expensive these days, who doesn't like free stuff? From my training week, we get free food, free shirts, and also a chance to win raffles at the, end of the year banquet. Some of the raffles include concert tickets, Keurigs, TV's, and more!
2. Meeting new people
From being a new hire last year, I met so many people and I'm still friends with all of them. Every year you meet someone new who makes an impact on your life one way or another. Some of the girls there are actually some of my sisters. I love working there. You get so comfortable.
3. Connections
Whether it is connections from other students for parties, you also get professional connections. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me to be a lifeguard for their summer swim party at their house, I would be a millionaire. Also, use your major. Since I'm an education major, a lot of parents come up to me during swim lessons and ask me to tutor their kid and even give me names of school districts who need teacher assistants, interns, and more.
4. Priorities as a student
During my freshman year I decided to live on campus. Since I worked at the SRC, I got priority move in. I had tons of help from the hall raisers, and got to move in a week early so I can beat the rest of the move in traffic.
