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Students enter workforce
TUES.| 05-25-21 | FEATURES
Many students at Rose are beginning to prepare for adulthood by entering the workforce. In doing so, they are developing different strategies to successfully balance work and school life. Students are grateful they will have the opportunity to carry on their job experiences to the adult world. Senior Laurel Hargrove, junior Abbie Paul, and sophomore Josiah Jernigan reflect on how working has affected their daily lives.
“I wanted to get a job because I wanted to learn how to make my own money and use it properly,” Cypress Glen Retirement Community employee Paul said.
Students are having to learn how to make time for their school work because they do not have as much free time as they normally would, now that their time is occupied with a job. Many students have begun to create a more balanced routine.
“When I first started working my grades dropped a little but not too bad, and when I got used to my new schedule of working, I made time to do my homework and brought my grades back up,” Tommy’s Express Car Wash employee
Graphic by Ava Alger
Laurel Hargrove said.
With the struggle of balancing a daily school life and a work schedule, students have noticed a difference in stress and anxiety in their new normal everyday life. Maintaining one’s mental health has been a huge challenge for students when getting a job because they are taking on a huge responsibility.
“My stress levels have actually increased… the job I’m at is short-staffed so I work more hours than I should be,” Texas Roadhouse employee Josiah Jernigan said. “My anxiety on certain weeks is also up whenever I have something important that’s due, but before I can even finish studying or starting it, I have to work.”
Working a set schedule as a student can interfere with their school life, but students are finding a way to make it work. Paul has discovered a plan that works for her in order to work around her daily schedule and her school life.
“I set out my work schedule in weeks of advance and I work around it for school, so it kind of just falls into play,” Paul said.
Students are viewing this new step in their life as something that will benefit them in many ways. Earning their own money by working has been very uplifting for many students because they are learning how to manage their money and spend it wisely.
“I'm making money as a teenager, so if I need something I can buy it,” Hargrove said. “If I’m working and going to school every day, there isn’t room for me to be doing anything dumb during the day that could get me into trouble.”
Some students are hesitant to get a job because of their school work and personal life. Hargrove said that she has found ways to help her coordinate her school schedule, allowing her to work her shifts.
“One piece of advice I would give is to communicate with your manager or boss about being a full-time student and working and let them know about your school work, so they can help make your schedule easier,” Hargrove said.
Many students are developing their work experience while continuing to succeed in their school life. Being an employee, students are starting to see themselves mature and grow by learning more about time management, as well as carefully spending their own money.
