I’m not going to lie. Some weeks balancing a full class load, being social and having to work 20+ hours can be a lot to handle. Some weeks it feels like I will never get the opportunity to genuinely relax again. That being said, working out of necessity while also going to school has in no way ruined my college experience. In fact, it has actually taught me a thing or two.

First and foremost, it has forced me to learn how to manage my time and use the time I do have productively. I would not be able to survive if I did not force myself to get things done in the spare moments I have between commitments. This has shown me how valuable something as small as 20 minutes can be. Honestly, it is easy to say “oh, it is just 20 minutes. There is no point to working on this assignment now.”

That way of thinking could not be more wrong. It is amazing how a quick 20 minutes here and another 15 minutes there adds up to getting assignments done. Without having such a busy schedule because of how much I have to work I would have never learned this lesson.

Having to work during my undergrad has also allowed me to see how self-reliant I can be. I don’t need to ask others for financial support. Instead, I know that I have the money management skills to ensure that I can pay for all of my necessities while also putting some aside for fun.

It is empowering to know that I am on my way to truly being a financially independent person.

Moreover, having to work and being so busy makes my downtime so much better. After working for six days straight and going to class for five of those days nothing feels better than taking a day to relax and prepare to do it all over again. The delayed satisfaction makes my hard work even better.

Of course, like I have said, it is not always easy and yeah, it can downright suck when I have to pass up on hanging out with friends because I need to work or catch up on school work, but the friends that are worth it understand when I have to say no, and they are always willing to get together later on when they know I am free.

I could also go without the whole getting up at 5:30 a.m. three days a week.

However, overall, working during college has taught me skills and self-assurance that I would not have been able to learn as effectively in the classroom, and for that I am thankful.