To work or not to work? That is the question so many college students face. There are many unknowns when considering a part-time or casual job during college that scare many students away. How many hours does one need to commit to? Are they flexible hours? Will it put one behind in homework? Will one miss out on the fun of college? These are all questions to consider when searching for a job.
There are many jobs within Orange City, and even Northwestern College, that fit well for college students. Many of NW’s students find on-campus jobs like working at Common Grounds, the circulation desk at the DeWitt Learning Center, a Resident Assistant in the dorms and many other opportunities. These types of jobs allow for shorter shifts that fit into tighter schedules, fewer hours for busy weeks of classes and less strenuous work for tiring days. They allow students to remain in the college community while working. One favorite campus job is being a Resident Assistant, an RA. RAs such as Amber Millard on Third North of Stegenga Hall and Ashyln Zomermaand on Second South of Fern Smith Hall are first-time RAs for NW, and they have found the position to be a very rewarding one.
RAs work roughly 12 hours a week on their wing or with their wing mates. This can look like doing homework in the hallway with the girls, having a one-on-one for lunch or getting all the boys together to see if they can eat 360 eggs in one night. The ways in which an RA can do their job are limitless. That said, the hours an RA can give their job are limited. “When it comes to investing and prioritizing your time, it sometimes feels like a race against your own self,” Zomermaand said.
It can certainly be a lot to invest in a whole wing of people plus all other relationships, but many RAs find it worth it. “Being an RA is so rewarding because I get to walk alongside women as they navigate faith, college and all that comes out of this season of life. They have been such an encouragement and support for me,” Millard said.
There are also many job opportunities off campus. Senior nursing major Madison Blankespoor, for example, has been working as a casual Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at the Orange City Area Health System (OCAHS) for three and a half years. As a casual CNA, she is only scheduled to work eight-hour shifts every third weekend and every sixth Friday. Besides those dates, she can pick up extra hours whenever the hospital is short-staffed. These eight-hour shifts can be a lot to commit to, but Blankenspoor believes they have actually made her a better student. “I have enjoyed working while being in college,” Blankenspoor said. “I’ve learned to be organized and efficient in my studies, which has allowed me to work without being stressed about school.”
With all this said, working during college is not for everyone. Some students have too busy of schedules to manage a job on top of everything else. One student who can attest to this is senior psychology major Breanne Van Genderen. During her freshman year, she worked at Taco Johns, but she was not able to return to the job her second year. “When I started pulling all-nighters and stopped talking to my roommate, I knew that I had to let something go,” Van Genderen said.
During the fall semester, she ran for the NW cross-country team while balancing 20 credits between her enrollment at NW and her online enrollment at Calvin University. During her spring semester, she did not have cross-country, but she continued to dedicate time to running and doing another 20-credit course load. She knew that if she wanted to continue to nurture her relationships on campus and do well in her studies, she would have to let something go. That something was her job.
Working during college fits for some and not for others. When considering a job, students should ask those around them and reflect on priorities to consider if working during college would be the right fit.
