Summer is getting closer, which means that many students are looking for part-time jobs. Almost every student in high school and college is familiar with the notion of working part-time while going to school. There are a lot of students who have a job while in school for several different reasons.

However, not every student in college and high school has a job or is looking for one. There are a lot of students who don’t need a job or want a job for that matter. Yet, many people who have had experience with getting a job can’t seem to comprehend why other students don’t work. They call students who don’t work words like “lazy” or “spoiled." If you’re a student who hasn’t had a job before, you know exactly how annoying this can be.

However, no matter what other people say, there is nothing wrong with focusing on your education instead of getting a job while in college just as there's nothing wrong with working while in school either.

People that call students who don’t have a job “lazy” obviously don’t realize how hard college can be, especially if you’re taking a lot of hard courses. College is already stressful, and having to balance school and a job can add an unnecessary amount of stress. It can also be very time consuming and can limit the number of classes you take or the time availble for studying. Many students’ grades start to slip once they get a job. They often have too many work hours to fully accommodate their course load or vice versa.

I’m not saying that you can’t have a job while in college. I currently have a job while I’m a student at Miami University, but this year is my first time working while in school. I've gone three years in college without having a job, and I never had one when I was in high school. The only reason I’m starting now is that I need the money to save up for buying a car so that I can commute to campus.

My point is that if you don’t have a job, you shouldn’t feel pressured by others to get one. Not everyone can handle a job and go to school at the same time. I went years without a job, and I still went through periods of stress or nervous breakdowns during college. My parents taught me that “hard work” doesn’t always come from rushing to get a job while in school. It comes from studying, working on assignments and keeping your grades up while in school in order to get a good job and a degree.

Those who call other people that don’t have a job “spoiled” are most likely the ones who will still accept money from their parents. I live with my parents in order to save money by not living in a dorm, and my parents still support me. However, contrary to what people think, my parents don’t pay for my tuition. I use my own scholarship money to pay for it.

Having your parents support you doesn’t make you spoiled because as long as you’re in school and working towards eventually being able to support yourself, then you aren’t living off your parents’ money. It shouldn’t matter how soon you decide to support yourself while in school because your end goal is the same.

So, to anyone who feels pressure from others, whether it’s family members, friends or acquaintances, you should take a minute to stop and reflect on all of the work that you’ve done in school. You don't need to work a part-time job in order to prove to others that you are a hard worker.

Just being in college and trying to maintain a high enough GPA is proof enough.