By Alina Rezepova, Staff Writer
The spring semester for working students brings new responsibilities and constant stress from rent, food, transportation, and tuition. While some look forward to new courses, others first check their work schedules. Each semester raises the same question: Work less to focus on studies or expect Saint Leo University to adapt?
For some students who work, the start of a new semester is always stressful, as they constantly must juggle work and school. When only a few hours are left after work to finish assignments, studying turns into a race for survival.
Often, with this lifestyle, studying takes a back seat. Students begin to complete assignments not for a deeper understanding, but simply to get them done.
There is also a struggle with proper sleep. Almost every student who works must go to bed after midnight and wake up at six or seven in the morning to get to classes. In this case, the body may not be able to withstand the load and malfunction.
“I work almost every day while studying at the university. Even with a schedule, it still gets hard. As the semester begins, there are more days when I have a headache and just want to lie at home doing nothing,” said Brianna Ortega, a sophomore majoring in sports business.
According to the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, the emotional state of a working student is often exhausted and suffers feelings of guilt either putting studying before the employer or vice versa, thereby causing depression. As a result, there is anxiety and a feeling that they are always lagging.
“Although I am not an anxious person, as soon as I started working and studying at the same time, I always had the feeling that I would not be able to do anything. Because of this, I could not completely relax,” said Ortega.
While studying at the university, students often look for part-time or flexible jobs to help manage their studies.
“Since I have a hybrid job, it provides flexibility to do homework and school-related activities,” said Yulissa Barrios, a junior majoring in marketing.
Some students feel university expectations do not match reality. With heavy workloads and no free evenings or weekends, working students are often left struggling to keep up, even when they try as hard as everyone else.
“If I do not plan efficiently, I will procrastinate. I do not always have free time to do my homework. I would like students to complete assignments only during classes,” said Barrios.
It would be easier for working students if the academic system was more flexible. Extended deadlines and the ability to avoid falling behind after missing just one week would make a big difference.
It is important not to force students to choose between money and a degree, but to recognize that work is a part of their student life.
