College is hard. We all know it has its moments. Between classes, social life, projects, clubs and everything else we have to juggle, it can be overwhelming at times. As a freshman, I spent my first semester adjusting to college life. I excelled in my classes, joined tons of clubs and had a great time (duh). So, when second semester came around, I found myself at a crossroads. Continue taking out more loans or find a part-time job?

All throughout high school, I held a job. It was easy. Go to school during the day, work at night and on the weekends for a few hours, and not have any bills to pay. College was different, though. I had bills, a car payment, insurance, food — so much that needed to be paid for.

I began applying for jobs over Christmas break. Anything and everything that was posted to a job site online was fair game. After two months, I got hired at Red Lobster.

Now, two and a half years later, getting that part-time job was one of the best decisions I made since coming to college.

Working part-time has given me freedom.

By working part-time throughout my college career, I have found freedom. I use the word "freedom" in many ways. I have found freedom from my parents by being able to fully support myself financially and emotionally. I have found freedom from excessive student loan debt. Working gave me the ability to live off campus and pay all my living expenses without needing extra loans.

Working part-time has allowed me to grow as a person.

Learning to become independent is a skill and lifestyle that everyone must go through. By taking the step to become financially independent, I’ve learned more about myself over the past two years than I had the previous 19 combined.

Working part-time gives you real-life skills.

While enrolled in college courses, I am gaining new knowledge every single day. But by working simultaneously, I have also gotten to apply the knowledge I have learned to real world scenarios. I have also learned more about the world around me by being immersed in my community.

I am thankful I pushed myself to work throughout my college career. But it isn’t always a good thing. Having to hold a part-time job that you work at for 30 hours a week on top of a full-time course load and club involvements comes out to be a time commitment that exceeds that of any full-time salary job. Sometimes it gets hard. Sometimes you question why you have to work twice as hard to do what everyone else seems to be doing.

But at the end of the day, you remember all of the benefits working part-time has given and will give you. No one can away take the amount of time, effort and patience you’ve put in to making college a success. So, for all of those out there working crazy jobs to make it to graduation: You can do it, and you’ll feel so rewarded for pushing through.