When imagining what four years of college looked like, I never pictured having to actually have a job during my time as a student (I also never imagined studying so you could probably guess as to why my gpa freshmen year wasn't too hot). I imagined the sorority I would join, the friends I would make, the parties we would attend, and the places we would turn into our frequent haunts; however how I would pay for any of the expenses I would have during this time of making memories never once crossed my mind. I probably assumed my parents would fund me, which was not smart on my end considering they required me and the two siblings to have jobs in high school.

So after a wake up of a first semester, my parents sat me down and told me that I would have to have a job if I wanted to be able to have any kind of spending money. Three and a half semesters later, I'm working part-time as a hostess and I'm continuously told "I don't know how you do it." Well let me tell ya, I'm not quite sure either.

From shifts ranging from four to eight hours multiple days a week, an endless amount of schoolwork that constantly needs to be done, and still trying to have some version of a social life as well? There are days I'm shocked I'm still functioning as well. However, even with my weeks being constantly booked, I have grown so much from my time as a part-time worker and full-time student.

I've learned how to manage my time, so that I have enough time to go to work, do my schoolwork, and still hang out with my friends. I've learned how to budget my paychecks, so that I'm not consistently broke or living paycheck to paycheck. Well, I've at least gotten so much better. I've learned the importance of no. There's always something going on that sounds so much more appealing than staying in and doing homework or giving up my Saturday to report to work. Each of these lessons are so important and will be incredible invaluable once I graduate college and move onto to the real world.

While being a part-time worker and full-time student has been exhausting and stressful, I wouldn't give it up. I make my own money, I've learned some pretty invaluable life lessons, and I've met some incredible people. Seriously though, some of my work friends have turned out to be some of my all-time favorite people here at UT (shout out to my Kins Squad). All in all, I've had a pretty good time on the crazy work/school/social life rollercoaster that has become my life.