BY SARAH WEBSTER
Many students juggle having a part-time job and going to school full-time. Being a college student doesn’t come cheap.
Some students have to rely on their part-time job in order to pay for their school.
Leah State, manager of Wellness and Counselling at the Centre for Student Success explains that according to a survey that was done in the winter of 2019, the second thing students found most traumatic or difficult to handle was finances. The number one thing was academics.
“They might be working too much, and they’re not putting in as much time into their school, so their grades might be impacted. They might be commuting long hours, which can be stressful,” said State.
Some students have to sacrifice things such as their social life, just so they can fully balance work and school.
“I always found myself sometimes skipping class because I just wanted to have time for myself,” says Brooke Bennett-Delbono, a fourth-year new media student at Ryerson University.
Bennett-Delbono also added that on weekends, she was unable to join any family parties or social outings because she didn’t have the time to do anything else between work and school.
However, Sandra Yu, employment development specialist at the Career Centre, says that students can gain experience that is beneficial from part-time work, experience that is helpful for their resume.
“Employers also see it as a valuable skill that students who have had some part-time work experience or have been involved in different things while they were at school, and they didn’t just go to class. That shows a certain character. It shows certain skill, that you are able to manage your time effectively, that you are able to prioritize, that you are organized,” said Yu.
- Gain experience
- Learn to be professional
- Improve time management skills
- Expand their professional network
- Meet new people
- Learn about the work world
- Learn to navigate different work environments
Students can learn to balance both work and school in ways that are positive, insightful, and less stressful.
Bennett-Delbono said that whenever she starts a semester, she looks at the syllabus and sees what major assignments are coming up, and then writes it on a calendar so that she isn’t panicking last minute.
“I’m able to see it four months in advance and then I can anticipate an assignment, and then do it while on top of work,” says Bennett-Delbono.
If you’re ever feeling stressed about having to manage both work and school, both the Centre for Student Success and the Career Centre are available to answer any questions and offer you advice.
