7 Truths You'll Only Understand If You're Juggling School and a Full-Time Job

Samantha Stewart
Apr 25, 2016
2 min read

There's a certain lifestyle associated with college students that involves a lot of booze, a little sleep, and Netflix binge-watching somewhere in between. As a college student who works full-time while also trying to juggle school and a social life, I often feel like I'm missing out on that true college experience.

To all my fellow college students who are also working while going through school, you'll understand these seven truths:

1. You won’t survive without time management.

Fit in time to work on your homework whenever your day allows it - whether that’s the 20 minutes you have between classes or the hour you have before you have to leave for work. Do not avoid it until you get off work at 2am the day before it's due.

2. Work. School. Sleep. Social life. Pick three.

It’s important to prioritize when you have such a busy schedule. You obviously aren’t superman and can’t be everywhere at once so you have to pick what is important to you.

3. You bring school to work and work to school.

When you have a 30-minute break at work you don’t use the time to grab a bite to eat or chat with a coworker. Instead you’re actively trying to figure out how you can use that time to get ahead in your schoolwork. Also, you find yourself relating every thing you do at work to school, like writing about work for an assignment. You've learned how to be resourceful and multitasking is no issue.

4. Managers and professors can be your best friends or worst enemies.

Communication is key. If you make sure your manager is aware of your school schedule and communicate with them when you have exams and important deadlines, it will make your life easier.

5. You feel like you’re missing out on the college kid lifestyle.

You die a little bit inside when you see a Snapchat from your best friends partying the night away as you finish your research paper and go to bed because you have to work at 6 AM.

6. Planning becomes an absolute necessity.

Spontaneous isn’t in your vocabulary. When a friend calls and asks if you want to meet up for a quick cup of coffee, you have to consult your planner first to figure out when you aren’t going to be at work or school.

7. There is a constant feeling that you have something to do.

When you don’t have an assignment or work task to complete (which is rare) you still have the constant weight on your shoulders that there is something you need to complete. This usually involves you checking your planner/calendar every hour and pinching yourself because you can’t believe you have a free moment to yourself.