Working while in school:The new era

A working learner is defined as “a student who balances learning in college with earning a paycheck,” according to a new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
The perception of the 21st century college student is no longer that of a freshman recently graduating high school and living on campus with zero responsibilities. The evolution of today’s college student has transformed into someone who has to maintain the responsibility of working for wages in school and throughout their college career.
Between 70 percent and 80 percent of today’s undergraduate students enrolled in U.S. postsecondary institutions have been employed, for the past 25 years. The students of Southern University play a role in these percentages.
According to researchers at Georgetown University, about 40 percent of undergraduate students and 76 percent of graduate students work at least 30 hours per week. The report also finds that nearly 25 percent of all working learners enrolled in college full-time are also employed full-time.
Johnathan Cotton, a 24-year old engineering major from New Orleans is currently employed at Raising Canes and works part-time, about 25 hours per week. Cotton stated that he feels as though maintaining a job while pursuing higher education does have an effect on his classwork. If given the option to quit his job and still maintain financially, Cotton agreed that he would do so without hesitation. “Everything would be way better and I could put in more hours in school and focus more,” he stated.
The number of college students enrolled at a higher education institution has increased over the past decade to meet the demands of today’s evolving workforce. More jobs are requiring postsecondary degrees as a means to getting hired.
While some critics argue that working for wages while enrolled at a higher education institution can be harmful to one’s grade point average, studies have proven that working through college is better than going straight into the work force after high school. Georgetown’s study finds that students who obtain a college degree while working are more likely to gain managerial positions with higher wages versus those who go into full-time work directly after high school.
Working while obtaining a college degree can have different effects on a student, depending on the student and the job position that they choose to fill.
Academic Advisor and Freshman Seminar Instructor, Zackeus Johnson, insists that while it may be a challenge for students who are employed while in college to be successful, it definitely is not impossible.
“I feel as if students who work while pursuing their Bachelor’s degree are still able to be successful. Every student is brilliant and capable of learning, but one has to realize that students all have different learning styles and backgrounds,” stated Johnson.
Any job that pays wages will help a student with skills such as communication, time management, budgeting, and teamwork. The misfortune of working while in school only comes to light when handled improperly.
As a freshman seminar instructor, Johnson was able to give advice for those who are employed and may need to manage their time better.
“Time management is key for students to maintain academic success. As stated earlier, it all depends on the student and their learning style. You must prioritize, take breaks and make room for personal time. Students should utilize their syllabus that’s provided by instructors to ensure that they are proactive and get ahead on many activities and assignments for their courses,” finished Johnson.
Dionda Miller, a 20-year old psychology senior from New Orleans feels as though having a job while in college does not affect her classroom performance. As a waitress at Hooter’s working 30 hours per week, she stated, “I think it’s all about time management. I feel like for those that it does affect, it’s because they let it affect them. You just have to learn how to prioritize your time and then you’ll be fine.”