Many college students see employment as an option but not a necessity, an activity, that they can decide to participate in or not. A part-time job for many college students is as important as their intramural soccer team. Not bashing soccer or any on-campus activity for that matter but I was shocked to hear from a classmate recently that she had quit her job in order to have more time to herself.
I didn't know you could do that. I knew people did that but older people, who were retiring, with wives and children and grandchildren even! Not a twenty-something who had only ever had one job before. 'What was she going to do with all that time?' I kept wondering. It lead me to some thinking, about the large number of my classmates, hallmates, and friends who don't work or who have never worked. A large number of 'Adults' my age still have to put babysitter on their resume. That's scary. Not only for our future or our economy but for them.
It must be terrifying for those halfway through college still turning in resumes with their neighbors listed as references. Who would hire them? When discussing part-time jobs there is inevitably the one person who feel as though they have to make an excuse for why they don't have one. Focusing on grades improbably the most popular argument for not working in college. This is a legitimate reason.
As a freshman coming into college it must be incredibly difficult to make that transition and maintain work and school. Those who can pull it off, however, come out with better time management skills than their peers. Student athletes are another example of college students who have a legitimate excuse, the amount of time and effort it takes to be a varsity athlete is incredible and allows for little else.
For upperclassman, however, the grades excuse is a lame one. Even if you aren't going out on weekends, or are actively participating in clubs on-campus, the excuse that you're unable to balance a few hours a week and your studies doesn't recommend you for adulthood. Another reason many college students don't have jobs is that their parents are footing the bill.
For those whose families are lucky enough to be in the position to do so, great. For those whose parents' money ends up going to clothes, late-night fast-food runs, and beer....get a job. It is ridiculous and will stunt your ability to budget and become a finically successful adult in the future. As single, twenty-somethings we have largely expendable incomes. Note that I said the percentage of income which is expendable is large, NOT the income itself.
Yes maybe your on-campus or part-time job is supposed to pay the bills but for many it doesn't. Like many I make minimum wage at my job. I understand it, though. I understand that the surplus of cheap labor in my college town allows for the job market to be saturated with unskilled twenty something's who just need something in order to keep their heads above water.
At least this shows that many people my age are trying to gain valuable experience and become finically independent. The money itself is only part of the reason why jobs are so important, however.
Much more important than the size of the paycheck is the fact that it teaches how to be an adult and juggle responsibilities so that when graduation rolls around I'll have more than just a babysitting job and a neighbor's reference to show that I'm ready to enter the real world.
