Many college students have to work during the summer to pay their bills. They don't have the luxury of taking off the whole summer and relaxing. They are totally on their own and have to be totally responsible for their own money and how they live. I am one of these people. I'm 23 and being a full-fledged adult is hard sometimes. I have to prioritize what is the smartest use of my time and plan accordingly. When I had a full-time summer job during the week and another job on Saturdays, I had no time to do things. Here are six realizations I had working six days a week.
1. Sundays are sacred, especially when it's your only day off
There were times I had to tell my friend that I couldn't go to church because I was so exhausted from the week. You have to mean a lot to me if you want to spend time with me on my day off.
2. I have no time for nonsense. I would rather spend my time doing things I enjoy
I get it. We are college students. We like to go get plastered on a Saturday night at the (insert bar name here). I love my occasional alcoholic drink. But why would I want to waste my time getting drunk when I know it is not a good product of my time? I would rather avoid the hangover and sleep in.
3. SLEEP IS IMPORTANT!
I can't tell you how many times I came back to my apartment and laid straight down in my bed after work. Summer jobs are really exhausting. Long hours at work plus less sleep plus the summer heat equals a more exhausted me.
4. Energy drinks and coffee are your friends
I have probably bought enough cans of NOS and Monster to put them out of business. Seriously. I needed one or two just to get through the day.
5. Regrets about not just taking the summer off, going home and going broke
I could have just went home, gone broke, and took the whole summer off. But I needed the money. So, the money was a price I had to sacrifice my summer for.
6. Thanking God for allowing me to have a job where I could show His love to people
I worked in two libraries this summer on campus. Most of the time, I was working at the circulation desk (where people check out books). Talking to people while I checked out their books allowed me to see those people in a different light. I am guilty of judging people based on the way they look. God penetrated my heart and convicted me to not see those people as I see, but how He sees them. Being the hands and feet of God and living out my life for Him is so empowering.
Honestly, I do not regret working this summer.