While college is a big game of how long you can put off a paper and still get an A, or how many cups of coffee you can chug before you feel like a human again, I have found an outlet that I hope many other students can experience. Having a part-time job in college isn't 'ideal', but it has taught me so many life lessons over the past two and a half years. Some good, some bad, some funny, some sad. While these four years teach us more than any other four years of our lives will, I owe most of it to working and here's why:
Time Management
Learning to balance classes, studying, social life, working out, among other things, is an interesting new found freedom. By adding work into the mix, I have learned to prioritize my time and maintain a regular schedule to get everything done. Sadly, this means gaining the wisdom to say "no" to some demands on my time while knowing what to sacrifice so I can say “yes” to others. But still, lesson learned.
Experience
Even if I am not gaining work experience that will benefit my eventual career, I am gaining real-life experience. Working with colleagues, answering to a boss, attending meetings, helping out coworkers, and meeting deadlines are universal demands that will benefit me no matter what career path I choose. Including a part-time job on my resume can prove I'm well-rounded and have a strong work ethic.
Budgeting
There’s no better way to learn how to responsibly handle finances than to do it. Earning a paycheck is exciting and sometimes can be spent in the blink of an eye. Learning how to work with your money and save while still being able to spend it on what you want and need, is a blessing. It's an interesting feeling to watch your money constantly go in and out of your bank account, but hey, that's life.
On-Campus Presence
If you have an on-campus job, there are plenty of opportunities to be more connected to what’s going on at the school, while getting paid for it. For example, working at a local coffee shop, I can keep up to date with daily campus news, scheduling, local stories, etc. I also get to meet professors and coaches who live locally, which can even help my build my network.
So while I may sometimes wish I didn't need to work while in college, I'm sure glad I do. I still find myself learning something new almost every day.
