Working full time and studying at college
At some point, everybody has to decide what form their future education is going to take, whether that be college, university, a trade, an apprenticeship, or any of the other myriad methods of education that have been cropping up in recent years. The current system is still set up to expect people who are teenagers or in their early twenties-people who have no real demands on their time, or distractions. These days, however, more and more people who go on to higher education don’t fit this expectation, and don’t fit the bill.
While everyone has the right to receive an education, that education can be difficult to maintain if you don’t fit the paradigm of the carefree teenager who doesn’t have anything better to do. People who are older than expected will have started their lives-they will have bills, families, and other obligations which can prevent them from focusing all of their attention on the classes they are taking. Because educational institutions are not set up for people who have other things to do besides take their classes, trying to do so while holding down a job can seem very complicated at the outset. Below is the list of tips prepared by writemyperfectessay.com.
12 Tips on how to balance college and work
If you are in the position of needing to hold down a job while also studying and taking classes, don’t worry. Plenty of people have done it in the past, and will do it again in the future; there is a lot of information out there to help anybody who needs to work and study at the same time. Read on these twelve tips on working full time while getting an education at the same time.
1. Have a good support system
Make sure that you have a strong support system around you when you are working and studying. It is a lot to take on, and you will need the help of those around you. It doesn’t matter who that support system consists of, although ideally it should have people from both your own domestic and public spheres, but you will occasionally need someone to pick up your slack-make sure that you have someone around you who can do that.
2. Find a flexible job
Working full time does not have to mean arriving at your desk by nine, leave between five and six, repeat every day of the week. It is the hours worked that make a job full time, not the timing of those hours. The work schedule which comes with an education can change according to the week you are in, so having a flexible job means that you can spend more time on education when you need it, and more time on work when you need it.
3. Schedule time off work
Scheduling time off is difficult at the best of times, and people often find it helpful to schedule it off as soon as possible. This is particularly the case for people who have educational commitments-it’s no use having a job if you find that you have been scheduled for a shift or an important meeting on the day of an exam, for instance. Schedule time off work as quickly as you can, when you get your syllabus and timetable.
4. Time management
When you are juggling a job and an education, it is extremely important that you manage your time appropriately. Know what is happening when, and make sure that you schedule your time effectively, where it is needed.
5. Keep people aware
Make sure that people know what it is that you are doing. The people around you need to know that you might not be available at certain times, and you might not have the ability to take on so much work.
6. Stay focused
Stay focused on the end goal of going to school while also working full time. It is hard to do both, and if you lose your focus, you could end up wasting time that you don’t have. Focusing on the end goal will help you keep everything in mind, and help you remember why you are doing this.
7. Breathe
As well as keeping your time schedule for both work and school, make sure to take time for yourself. If you wear yourself out, you won’t be able to bring your best self to either your work or your studies. Besides the impact it will have on your future, think about the people around you as well.
8. Know what you are doing
Why are you doing this? It might seem like a facetious question, but give it some thought. Why are you working full time while also studying? It is a lot of work, so you need to be absolutely clear on what you are doing and why it is worth it.
Don’t simply study for the sake of bragging rights-make sure that you are spending the time on something valuable, something that you want to do, and that will help you and others.
9. Bring school to work and work to school
Use the fact that you are working to your advantage. Projects in your education can be done by using the work you are currently doing, while projects at your work can be revitalized by using the work you are doing for your courses. Particularly if the end goal of your education is to enhance your work capabilities, there is no law saying that you can’t mix work and education until you have the diploma in your hands.
10. Consider online courses
Not everybody goes to a brick and mortar institution for their education; it isn’t a requirement, and with the internet reaching new heights everyday, taking an online course is a viable option.
11. Optimize your tuition money
Make sure that you are getting your money’s worth when you pay for education. This doesn’t necessarily mean just looking for the cheapest option, but looking carefully at the way the courses are perceived, and seeing what happens to people who have the education. Look and see who is taking the course, and who is teaching it, so you can take the courses which are best for you.
12. Love your learning
Don’t get an education just because it is another feather in your cap-do it because learning is fun, and because you love what you do. Take a course which will help you perform better at work, and make sure to enjoy the experience as much as possible.
Working full time while also studying is a difficult proposition-make sure that you know what you are doing, and above all, make sure that you enjoy it!
