College Publisher Test Site

Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Marie De Jesus Illustration by Marie De Jesus

Many think being employed while in college is a burden, but they might not know that some students consider a job to be a positive influence while in school.
At Daytona Beach Community College most agree that working helps students focus and build character for every day life.
As part of her Teen Finance Series, Editor Kathryn R. Deering says in "Cash and Credit Information for Teens" that high school students formulate the idea of getting a job at a young age but less than half actually make the effort to work during school.
Furthermore, much of the money a high school student earns is for extra cash to spend on movies, music or clothes. Few parents are against letting their teen work while attending school, but most leave the decision to their child.
One returning DBCC student, a father of three, chooses to let his kids make the decision, but only if work is limited. Tommy Wilson, 39, says a job for a young person should open up opportunities in fields they could explore for future study. He adds that a job at a young age prepares young people for the real world as long as they are not overloaded.
"The best feelings for a parent about their child working, is the limitations of social misconduct," Wilson says.
Having a job at a young age is great for pocket money and offers hands-on experience.
For a college student, a job is almost as necessary as an iPod. Statistics show nine out of 10 college students are employed part or full-time. Retail and hospitality jobs are the most common areas of work for a young person in Volusia County.
Retail is an especially hard field during the holidays because of the combination of the season rush and final exams.
"Getting laundry done is a big deal," says Emily Yanez, a full-time student at DBCC who serves at a busy seafood restaurant in Ormond Beach.
It's hard to work and attend school at the same time, she says, not only because she is exhausted after working a six day schedule, but also from the energy it takes to study. Even as a 22-year-old she has bills to pay and tries to keep some semblance of a social life. She appreciates what her parents give her and never takes it for granted. Despite her struggles, Yanez stresses that having a job while in school teaches a person responsibility. The ultimate achievement is finding balance in life.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools