Working while taking 18 credit hours and having a dog may seem a bit obnoxious, it is only because my job is one of the only things that keeps me sane. I have worked on-campus for the last three years and adore it. I may have some bad days every once in a while, but at the end of the day, I know I am making a difference. Plus, it's handy to have those three-hour shifts everyday where I am just working on the tasks in front of me and not focusing on the 20,000 other things in my head. Here are my top 10 reasons you should work for a campus department.

1. You have a voice.

Your opinion matters in your department. Where do departments on campuses get their best ideas: From students, of course. You will get asked a billion times (OK, maybe three times) if you think an event is going to attract students, or if a taco bar is the best option for the employee party. It may be about little things but you do make a difference and you feel smart doing it.

2. You get to be a boss.

At least once you will have to train someone or will be left in charge. As long as the person doesn't quit and the building doesn't burn down, you will get a pat on the back and maybe a positive write up.

3. You know about things before a lot of other people do.

A lot of times when working in a department whether your professional staff tells you, or if you just overhear things you know about them first. You will know that Cassie is getting a promotion and that the event for next week is cancelled well before anyone else.

4. You learn so much about yourself.

You learn so much about how to handle situations while working in a department. You may not realize it right away, but eventually you will win an argument with your roommate and go, "oh, I learned how to really communicate at work." Because no offense, you will not learn how to handle conflict in you COMM 122 class like you will learn while dealing with a student that just got double billed on their account and won't be graduating until they pay up.

5. You get so many free things.

So many free things. From T-shirts to candy, it will be yours first (mostly because you will be the one unpacking the boxes and taking inventory). BUT STILL FREE STUFF.

6. You have so many opportunities.

You will get so many opportunities to represent your department. From being on camera for a week in review, to being on 30 committees about random things. It helps you stay involved on campus and build that resume like a mother trucker heading straight for Successville.

7. You make friends for life.

The people you see every day become your best friends really quickly. They are the people you sweat it out in the shed cleaning and the people you go to the bar with after work to complain about what Suzie said to Jack on the courts. They are the people who tell you to stop pulling your hair out about your deadline and the people that step in when a player wants to fight you for your bad call. These are also the people that will puke in your house and wake up on your couch (awkward face).

8. You get to leave your mark on your campus.

Whether it is making a form, or helping paint a building you leave your mark on campus. A lot of people may not know about it, but you will.

9. You get a mentor for life.

The professional staff in your department become your mentors on life. They are there when you come in stressed about everything under the sun, when you come in after failing an exam, and when you get your rejection letters. They help build you up every day and take you right back down to humble town when you get a little power hungry.

10. You have a home on campus.

Lastly, your campus department job becomes your home. This is the place where you fight your biggest battles and celebrate your biggest wins. You have a team behind everything you do and you know at least one person will have some good gossip to cheer you up after a long day.

So I say go for it. Get those campus department jobs and make a difference. I may be a little bias but working for a university department will change your life.