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"I couldn't do it," Castillo said to the idea of having to work
while also attending college. "I'd have a nervous breakdown."
Personal consequences or not, many students
think that a job is a necessity. Palo Alto students give many reasons
as to why they feel the need to work. Some are earning money for a new
car, a new stereo or to keep a boyfriend or girlfriend happy. Others,
however, have to support a family, pay the bills or pay off credit card
debt and loans.
Students might be better off if they concentrate on getting a degree before
thinking about getting a job. A study done by the U.S. Bureau of Census
in 1996 showed that a person who has earned a Bachelor's Degree will typically
earn 62 percent more money annually than someone with a high school diploma
or GED. That adds up to an extra $14,000 per year. If a college student
can hold off on getting a full-time job during the duration of his or
her college years, the result will be finishing a degree in less time,
which means you’ll earn a higher salary sooner.
Having to balance two big responsibilities
is going to take its toll upon working college students. Professors notice
that grades suffer when students work full-time.
Studies have shown that college courses,
combined with a career, often lead to increased stress. This stress then
may lead to several other serious physical and psychological ailments,
including increased blood pressure, headaches and eating disorders, in
some serious cases.
Students with jobs sometimes experience problems on a more personal level,
as well. Laura Falkenberg, a student at Palo Alto, once worked at a part-time
job while attending classes. While her grades may not have suffered as
a result of her career, her family life did. Falkenberg said that she
quit taking college courses for a time for the sake of her children, who
would often see a baby sitter more than they would see her.
Falkenberg chose to work because she needed
the money for her family and didn't want to resort to Medicaid or food
stamps. She began attending Palo Alto again once she figured out a way
to not only balance work and school, but to also devote an ample amount
of time to her children. "Family comes first," said Falkenberg.
What can a college student do in a situation
where a job is completely necessary? Professor Castillo recommends that
if no other alternatives exist for a working college student, he or she
might be able to balance school and a career if the student's class schedule
is tempered correctly. Castillo advises that working students should avoid
courses that are heavy in reading, as homework assignments in such classes
are typically more time-consuming than those in other courses.
Other students and faculty members at Palo
Alto give different advice. Books or seminars on effective time management
could be helpful for some. Proper management of one's free time is the
key to finding balance between a career and college. Having a job that's
located close to home or school is an advantage as well. If all else fails,
a working student might also try to cut back on work or school, by either
taking less courses or by trading in a full-time job for a part-time one.
Still, many will suggest that one should
avoid having to deal with two time-consuming responsibilities at once
on a daily basis. Students must keep “their eyes on the prize”
and focus on their long-term goals.
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