Many college students choose to work when they're in school. Here is the list of the pros and cons that I thought through to ultimately decide to work.
PROS:
1. Earn Money
One of the main benefits of working while in college is to help pay all the costs involved in earning a degree. Even with my own savings, financial aid such as grants and loans, and some of my parents' money, I was still short. I had to get a job to make ends meet; otherwise I could not earn my degree.
2. Gain Experience
Working in the real world rather than just taking classes and hitting the books 100% of the time helped me learn valuable experience and knowledge about just what's involved in holding a job and collecting a paycheck. I learned to be on time every day (a tough thing for someone right out of high school), how to get along with coworkers, and how the businesses where I worked operated from the inside. These skills greatly benefited me when I graduated.
3. Make Contacts
Through my jobs as a waiter and a cashier for a busy restaurant, I was surrounding myself with many different people from all walks of life every single day. This allowed me not only to make friends with many of them but to also develop valuable business contacts that I can use to network in the future for either references or for opportunities to job openings.
4. Become More Responsible
Having to hold a job made me more mature than if I didn't have to keep up with the demands and pressures of my work situation. This maturity allowed me to become more responsible not only to my coworkers and boss, but to the entire sphere of people in my life who may be counting on me.
CONS:
1. Long Hours
It was tiring and exhausting to hold a part time job while taking on a full load of college coursework. I found myself studying to the wee hours of the night after a long day of classes and work just so I could finish up my homework. Sleep and friends were often neglected as I pushed toward my goal.
2. Grades May Suffer
Because of the long hours put in at work, I did not have enough time to study adequately to achieve the highest grades possible in all my studies. Ultimately, I ended up with a B+ average, so it all worked out for me.
In the end, I am glad I juggled both school and work while in college. I pressed hard and made the best of my situation culminating in a journalism degree.
Join College Edge! in welcoming our latest guest blogger, Christina Lopez!
About the Author: Christina Lopez is a freelance fashion writer and pop culture junkie. Christina specializes in all things lifestyle-related. From home and design to health and beauty. With her love of art and all things beautiful, she delights in sharing her sense of style from her life to your computer monitor. Her title pegs her as an editor at a website that specializes in providing people with car insurance quotes, but her passion leads her into writing with a little more substance and a lot more heart.
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