It’s not easy being a college student. Yet, as soon as I got settled in last semester, and my classic Chloe boredom that comes from my need to be constantly doing something set in, I decided to increase the difficulty level on my life even more by getting a job.
I wasn’t going to go for anything crazy; just a part-time to help me feel a little less guilty about spending my savings on Ubers and the occasional dinner out to a restaurant not on meal money. I deserve to treat myself, and with a bank account that is getting replenished every two weeks, it’s a lot easier to convince myself of that.
After some searching, a few awkward interviews, and a bit of “embellishing” about my experience, I landed myself a sweet gig at a local coffee shop. I would be a barista. Is there anything more of a classic college job than that? It would be just like the old days of playing Papa’s Freezeria on CoolMathGames (rip Adobe Flash Player), just for realsies this time around.
In all honesty, I hadn’t really been a coffee drinker at all before I got the job. I promised myself I wouldn’t become addicted, and I think I’m still in the clear. I enjoy the taste, but I have yet to use my own money to pay for a coffee; I either get my free employee drink each shift or I use a meal swipe at our lovely Suzie’s here on campus. I’m a coffee appreciator, but not an addict.
I have to say, after working at the shop for a few months now, I find myself genuinely enjoying it (and will hopefully continue to do so). I’ve met a lot of super cool people there that have become trusted coworkers who I can talk to about crazy stories from my week while we clean. There’s nothing that brings people together more than sharing a laugh while scrubbing toilets or confiding in each other while scraping coffee grounds out of a french press.
I wouldn’t condone getting a job while being a student if you don’t have good time management skills. I’m very good at planning out my day to account for all of the things I need to get done: class, exercise, socialization, studying, work, and sleep. I recognize that I possess a rare skill in my ability to balance my life. It takes a real pro, and there’s no shame if it doesn’t work as well for you. Working is, well, a lot of work.
One of the hardest parts of having a job is my work schedule. As a coffee shop, we aren’t open too late, which is nice for me, but it does also mean that we open early in the morning. I walk to work before the sun comes up, and probably before most of you are even close to being awake. I have to admit, it has given me a little bit of a superiority complex, but that gets erased as soon as I have a day off and end up sleeping well past sunrise.
All in all, having a job while being a student is a challenge, but with the right skills, it’s doable. All it takes is a bit of planning, a lot of self-discipline, and just a splash of espresso in your system as soon as you clock in.