Being a student in college is tough already, but if you are a working student, then it is a whole other story. Instead of getting to not set an alarm clock for Saturday morning and sleeping in, you probably are waking up before the sun comes up to get ready for a long shift at work. Working and being a student may not seem like the best option, but it will pay off in the long run (trust me).

First, believe it or not, you actually have time management skills. Since you have to work all weekend, you designate time to focus on your studies and complete your homework when you have free time after work. Time management is always a very valuable skill to have.

Second, you have motivation. You are motivated enough to wake up early to make it to your shift (whether it takes an extra cup of coffee or two to get you going), you are motivated enough to get there. Motivation is priceless, and you will more than likely be motivated in your studies as well.

Next, YOU ARE MAKING MONEY. I would not necessarily say that this is the most important thing to being a working student, but it is definitely a bonus. Whether it is to pay for a bill or just to have some fun, spending money; you have it! Sleeping in isn’t even better than making money (this may be debatable).

As a working student myself, I know the challenges and the struggles of trying to balance both my work load and school load. Trust me, I think it is manageable and while it may not seem like it now, it will pay off. Go you for doing adult things already!