The Many Hats of a College Student

1
The Many Hats of a College Student

• By,
• Tammy Jones

2
Everyday Roles To Fulfill

• Employee
• Parent
• Full time student

3
Employee Life

• Full time employees
• Working school into an already full schedule
• One student stated, My shift is usually 9-10
  hrs from Sunday to Thursday. I miss sleeping,
  doing laundry and grocery shopping like normal
  folks.

4
Employee Life Continued

• Part time employees
• Bills must be paid, it helps to have flexibility.
• As one student mentioned, I am lucky to only
  have to work two days a week and my manager is
  willing to work with whatever I may need.

5
Employee Life Continued

• Some students do not have to work.
• I'm fortunate that I don't have to work while
  going to school, so I don't have the
  responsibility of a job to balance my studies.
• Personally it's not too hard because I live with
  my mom and her and my boyfriend pretty much take
  care of whatever I may need so that all I have to
  concentrate on is school.

6
Parenting

• Many people who have children younger in life do
  not finish college until later in life or not at
  all.
• An intricate balance
• One mother shared that, At first it was very
  challenging. I went back to school when my son
  was five weeks old and I could not handle both.

7
Parenting Continued

• Day care
• Parents are in class, children need to be cared
  for. This can be a very stressful and costly
  predicament.
• In class, one student suggested that, Having a
  free day care center on campus would help a lot.

8
Parenting Continued

• Fitting the work in
• Trying to take care of children and completing
  assignments often conflict.
• One student shared tactic she implements, I read
  my textbook whenever I can, like when I'm in the
  car waiting for my kids from school.  I have a
  to-do-list that reminds me when and what need to
  be accomplished.

9
Full Time Student

• Being a full time student is a job in and of
  itself.
• Studies may have to take a back seat to lifes
  other priorities.
• One student stated, Sometimes I get so
  overwhelmed I feel like my world is spinning out
  of control

10
Full Time Student Continued

• School work piles up very quickly.
• It is easy to get behind.
• Senioritis
• One student admitted, I am by nature a
  procrastinator, so I sometimes put off studying
  or reading until the last minute.

11
Full Time Student Continued

• There is a lot of pressure to do well.
• This can come from outside or internal sources.
• Frustration was expressed by one individual when
  she stated, I have to work hard in school
  because I have to get good grades to keep my
  scholarship, and then I feel like a zombie.

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What This Means

• Being a college student comes with high demands.
• Things can become extremely overwhelming.
• Wearing the hat of an employee, a parent, or a
  full time student are difficult in and of
  themselves.

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Tips For Success

• Make to-do lists.
• Read whenever you get a chance.
• Prioritize your priorities.

14
Some More Tips For Success

• Squeeze in time for yourself.
• Time management
• Communicate with bosses and professors.
• Most importantly, BREATHE!