Balancing School Work & Life
Firstly, if you are attending university or college, your priority is your education. Don’t let work or social affairs interfere with your path to academic success. Secondly, if you do feel financially in need of a job, choose one that doesn’t stress you out.Of the many impossibilities in our society, working and attending school full-time is not one. As a matter of fact, it is a norm in our society for students to be attending full-time university or college, and also having a job in order to be able to support themselves.
“So what’s the big deal?” you may ask. An article dated January 30, 2009 in Times Online showed that British universities have 15,000 fewer students than previous years. The fear that tuition fees are too high, or part-time students not being able to get federal loans and grants, is something we can relate to in America today.
Nearly 90 percent of full-time students are working either part-time or full-time, and many of them have families. For some, it would be easy to enjoy the years of university, working on campus yet also receiving federal loans and scholarships. However, not everybody can enjoy that luxury. So if you are a full-time student and working, where do you draw the line? How do you keep life balanced?
For many colleges and universities, a full-time student is required to take 12 credits, which comes to 12-15 hours spent in class each week. The remaining time is dedicated to work, homework, household chores, and having fun.
So take an average day where you wake up at 7:00 am in the morning and get ready for your first class at eight. Be wise, and don’t overload yourself with more than three classes in one day, and balance them out over the week. It’s much easier to be attending school five mornings a week, than spending two whole days on campus and being over-exhausted the following day.
On that average day, you are out of school by noon, leaving you with 8-10 hours to do whatever you please. If you are working to pay off loans and fees, then choose a job that doesn’t require an extensive amount of work after you leave. That way, you can relax once you are home. The average student can work anywhere between 4-5 hours for five days a week. With a balance like this, you get to spend an hour or two on your homework once you are home, and also some quality time with the family!
Although schedules and timetables are different for each student, there are certain aspects that need to be taken into consideration. Firstly, if you are attending university or college, your priority is your education. Don’t let work or social affairs interfere with your path to academic success. Secondly, if you do feel financially in need of a job, choose one that doesn’t stress you out. You don’t want to worry more about work than your academics. Set aside a certain amount of time everyday to study, do homework, and complete your academic work. And lastly, it is just as important to give yourself a social outlet during the week. Your weekends are time for you to relax and enjoy yourself.
