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An Open Letter To The College Students Working Their Butts Off

You’re a straight up boss, and you don’t get enough credit for how hard you work.

A. Sipe

May 31, 2016

Southern Oregon University

An Open Letter To The College Students Working Their Butts Off

The Sliced Pan

This one goes out to the college student working their butt off.

There’s a misconception that college is just school. But you’re doing so much more than that. On top of classes and homework, you’ve got a slew of other responsibilities: clubs, sports, your job, your second job your third job, significant others, friends, family, your pet hamster(s).

You’re working about five full-time jobs, managing a 60 hour work week, only getting paid for those actually spent on the clock, and still maintaining something akin to a social life.

Has anyone told you that you’re a badass?

You’re a straight up boss, and you don’t get enough credit for how hard you work.

Sure, you’re falling asleep in your 8:30 a.m. class (in a class about corn, who wouldn’t?). Yeah, you’re so hangry that you snapped at your BFF/roomie, the one person who truly understands and loves you. Maybe you’re just a little bit on the edge most of the time. Maybe you're ready to burst into tears at awkward moments, like in the library, on the way to class, or in front of a professor during office hours.

And that’s not even mentioning the mental struggles you endure every day. Anxiety, depression, mental illness, existential crises, straight up loneliness. Maybe you struggle to make enough money to eat three times a day. Maybe you face hatred or estrangement from others for just being yourself.

You tackle each day with patience and courage. You may think no one notices or cares, but I do. I hear you, and I see you. I think you are an amazing artist, writer, athlete, dancer, teacher, tutor, scientist, musician, actor, coworker, singer, barista, and friend.

Being a college student and everything that encompasses is hard work. I know where you’re at; for the first time in my life, I’m working 40 hour weeks and taking 16 credits. I work seven days a week. Sometimes I feel like curling up in my bed and never leaving. But my family, friends, coworkers, and people like you remind me that I am not alone.

I hope you know that you are not alone, either. You’re shaping the life that you want and pursuing your dreams. You’re working your butt off, but your hard work is not going unnoticed.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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An Open Letter To The College Students Working Their Butts Off

You’re a straight up boss, and you don’t get enough credit for how hard you work.

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You are fun, but firm.

"Getting drunk with your best friends is an experience in and of itself. It takes us on wild and ridiculous adventures with the people we trust with our lives."

The Mother Hen

The Instigator

The One Who Always Texts Her Ex

The Shakira

The Philosopher

The Reluctant Homebody

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The "I'm Not Even Drunk!" Girl

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The Horny Toad

The Aspiring Rapper

It's so rude that we have finals.

1. When you look at your finals schedule and become immediately overwhelmed:

2. When your professor says that the final is only going to be short answer questions:

3. When you text your parents to tell them that you're going to have a mental breakdown and drop out of college and they're just like:

4. When you're trying to study with friends, but then you realize that you haven't gotten anything done:

5. Then you just end up going on your phone.

6. When you're two weeks away from finals and your professor tells you that you should probably start studying now:

7. When you sit down to take your final and the first question hits you like:

8. When you start the practice problems and you're just like:

9. When you're in your final and find a question that you actually know the answer to:

10. When that one annoying kid in your class says that the final was super easy and they aced it:

11. When you come back from your 7:30 a.m. final and crash:

12. When your professor tries to teach you new material a week before the final:

13. When you decide to eat away the pain that is finals week by ordering massive amounts of food:

14. Filling out course evaluations for that one difficult professor like:

15. When it's right before your first final and you're just like:

16. When your professor tells that you the final is cumulative:

17. When the kid next to you keeps looking over at your test:

18. Looking back on the outfits that you wore during finals week like:

19. When it's been two hours and you've only gotten through five notecards:

20. When you finally make it to the end of the week:

There's always chaos in the restaurant business.

Anytime you turn a corner the words "corner!" without you even realizing.

People are amazed at how professional you are when speaking to strangers, or on the phone

When we say "table 17 is on a bus", table 17 isn't LITERALLY on a bus.

You understand the frustration of the functions of another existing restaurant when going out to eat.

When you repeat the same spiel 40 times you start to sound like a lifeless robot.

The rush of prime dinner service. The chaos is riveting.

You have "that guy" at a table that makes you want to pull your hair out.

Getting stiffed an entire tip is worse than dealing with a difficult human being.

When you're sitting in a restaurant you don't dare interrupt your servers table presentation.

At the end of the night, you take the first opportunity you get to take a seat.

Not everything you learn in college can be found in a textbook.

Your self control and motivation directly correlate to how close the end of the semester is.

Group projects seem to be something created by the devil himself.

Remember when you were young and you knew everything there was to know? Wrong: you knew nothing.

If there is free food offered - go!

Never believe a professor when they tell you "Don't worry, this won't be on the test."

If you want a relationship with someone, it will take effort.

Check your email before you trudge all the way to class to find out it is cancelled.

You do not need a ton of friends, just a couple of really good ones.

Take the time to do what you love.

Every Saturday you will avoid doing homework like it is the plague. When Sunday rolls around you will complain that you have way too much stuff to do and not enough time to do it.

Your college experience is what you make of it.

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