Balancing school and work is a common issue among many college students.

Full-time workers must dedicate 35-40 hours of their week toward their jobs. Full-time students must earn at least 12 credits a semester and commit a similar amount of hours toward school-work and studying per week.

So how do they handle both?

“It’s difficult to find balance at times” remarks sophomore Owen Stone. “I don’t have a lot of time to focus on myself.”

This is the reality for these students as they juggle both work and school responsibilities with everyday life.

Reports show that approximately 40-60% of college students in the U.S. hold jobs while enrolled. While students know this is not ideal many deem it necessary.

Sophomore Gess Gallien agrees with the above claim.

“The reality is that you’re gonna need a job if you’re paying for your own college,” he says. “Everything is already expensive enough, and having to pay for college on top of that makes a job necessary.”

For students, loans can help ease the burden of paying for college, however, many are hesitant due to the baggage of student loan debt.

“Even with student loans, I have to work a full time job to hopefully be able to pay them off,” says first-year Schously Rodriguez.

A common struggle many students are tasked with is working late at their jobs and then needing to wake up early for their classes.

“If I close at work I usually won’t get home until after 11, just to wake up at 8 sometimes for my first class,” says Stone.

These struggles, as well as unexpected call ins, homework load, study time, and commuting to and from campus create a packed schedule with minimal time for hobbies or leisure activities.

However, with good time management, students are able to carve out space for things other than school and work.

“Even though it’s difficult, I try and set aside time to hang out with my friends and family each week,” states Rodriguez.

Despite the pressure, many full-time student workers say the experience builds resilience. They develop organizational skills, financial literacy, and sometimes professional experience alongside their degrees.

Employers too, often note the strong work ethic of student employees who are able to manage both roles.

“I feel like I have learned a lot about customer service here and how to be responsible with money, so even though it’s hard at times, I think it’ll be worth it” states Gallien.

As economic pressures persist, the full-time student worker may no longer be the exception, but the norm. This redefines what the modern college experience looks like in an era where ambition and necessity will often go hand in hand.