Although the minimum wage in California has gone up over the last few years, and will continue to rise until it reaches $15-per-hour, it is not enough to get by.
This is especially the case for a full-time student who has to pay their way through college, primarily using their money on tuition, books, rent, and other necessities.
Many students find themselves having to work multiple jobs to make ends meet when financial aid isn’t enough, or if they just don’t receive it when their parents make more than average.
It doesn’t help when many companies are in the time of cutting down hours for employees as well. An employee who works more than a certain number of hours with one organization becomes full-time instead of part-time, and then have to receive benefits. Most companies who hire college age students opt into having more part-time workers over less full-time workers to account for that cost.
With wages on the rise, it seems that more companies are finding more reasons to cut hours as well. This makes it harder for students to just work on the job.
Of course, professors don’t always care about personal lives either. In one case, Jasmine Fregoso of Riverside City College witnessed her professor yelling at another student for not having their homework due to work.
“Maybe you should cut down your hours at work,” the professor said.
The student, embarrassed by his teacher’s comment, said nothing.
“She must not have worked during her time in college because she doesn’t understand that not everyone will have the time to do the homework every night,” said Fregoso.
This seems to be the case for many students who aren’t able to meet the high demands of working and balancing school.
However, even with wages rising, companies continue to cut down on the hours they distribute to their employees, making it harder for students to just work one job. This means making more time to fit two different schedules around school.
For example, the Walt Disney Company saw a 20% cut in labor to make up for building expenses for the upcoming Star Wars themed lands and the grand opening of a new park in Shanghai.
Some students, and even those who need to provide for their family, need to work various jobs that provide minimal hours just to get by.
Cal State LA graduate Jordan Olsen wasn’t able to even receive financial aid because his mom simply “made too much money” so he had to work two jobs that required 20 hours a week separately.
The help Olsen received from his parents was just for the first three months of rent, but then he had to do it all on his own.
“I didn’t have much time for studying,” said Olsen. “[And] sleep and I didn’t have a good relationship.”
Through it all, Olsen still managed to graduate cum laude with a 3.6 GPA.
This is proof that even though it may be tough to work multiple jobs and balance school, it can be done and is well-worth it in the end.
Students can learn what it means to work hard to get what they want, and get to appreciate it more when they succeed
