The student worker
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April 26, 2010 • Vincent Calderone, Guest Contributor
Filed under 2009-2010
Working a part time job and attending college full time is, “stressful sometimes, but it’s mainly time management,” says UAA student and Starbucks employee Carol Wintters. “What you need to do and what you want to do are often not in sync. With me, school obviously comes first, then my job.”
For the most part, realistically, students can’t possibly completely support themselves and have enough time for studying. This is where student loans and parental support come in, “Yes, my parents help me,” she said with a laugh, “I wouldn’t have money for anything if I paid my own car insurance.”
This is the case with most students, and that’s why having a job that brings in a little bit of spending money is nice.
“I enjoy working for Starbucks, the tips are nice and I’m able to get just the right amount of hours to put some money in my savings account every pay check,” said Wintters.
The benefits of having a job at a coffee shop are numerous, but at the top of the list is free coffee, “I get a pound of coffee or tea free each week, on top of the free drinks I get while working and my thirty percent employee discount,” added Wintters.
During the holiday season, it becomes even more convenient when the discount rises. “For the holidays, we get an extra ten percent off,” beamed Wintters. You can see how a budget-tight student may find discounts at popular coffee shops an excellent way to save a little cash.
“I really like my job, although it’s tough to deal with people directly, especially angry costumers, but I do love coffee.” Although, Wintters does hint that a job change might be in her future. “Yes, I have thought about it for a while, it just seems like the logical choice; working at a bank would give me set hours, particularly in the mornings through the day. I will have my student schedule set to night classes which will make it easier to plan ahead and ultimately get more study time in.”
Overall, jobs are good for college students to have. And although at times, priority management may come into play, students generally have enough time for everything. And as a last testament from Wintters, “No, your personal life doesn’t have to end just because you have a job and are taking a full school schedule; I know ‘cause it’s my life.”
