Balancing school and work: tips from AU students
By Kayla Portillo | Staff writer
From servers to veterinary assistants, students at Augusta University shared their secrets on balancing school and work.
A high percentage of Augusta University students are balancing either a part-time or full-time job.
Senior Morgan Stone, a veterinary assistant, said that it takes a lot of responsibility and time management to efficiently balance her schoolwork and personal job at South Pointe Animal Hospital.
“As a vet assistant, my job is to ensure the wellbeing of all the animals and to assist the vet tech during any procedures,” she said. “I’ve learned how to manage and use my time wisely because there are times I sacrifice going out with my friends to study or to pick up a shift and see my furry babies.”
Junior Bella Ryan, a student during the day and bartender at Rhinehart’s during the night, said that she loves her job. It keeps her busy and motivated.
“My secret to balancing school and the restaurant is to make sure I choose a job that I am genuinely happy at,” she said. “Nothing is more important than your mental health because being a student is already stressful, and it doesn’t help if you don’t like your job.”
According to Ashley Ray, a server at Doc’s Porchside restaurant, the secret to balancing school and work is learning how to say no.
“My friends are constantly asking me if I can go to parties with them, and my response most of the time is ‘no,’” she said. “It’s either because I have to work in the morning or because I have a 10-page essay that none of them are going to help me write. So, just learn how to say no, and you will have fewer struggles of being a student and working at the same time.”
Alyssa Tudor, a senior at Augusta University, shared a few tips on how she has successfully balanced her life as a student, mom, baker and bartender at Vance’s Bakery Bar.
“My tips are to first organize your assignments by due dates, keep an agenda, procrastinate strategically and take breaks,” she said. “Procrastination is bound to happen. Just shift your focus on something else in your agenda, and cross out tasks as you go; it feels amazing!”
Learning how to balance school, work and life seems challenging, yet, according to www.thinkprogress.org, nearly 80 percent of students are working while in school.
Striking a good balance takes perseverance, dedication and remembering your goals.
At top of page, student and bartender Bella Ryan says to choose a job you feel happy with.
Contact Kayla Portillo at kportillo@augsuta.edu.
This story is published in the Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 print edition of The Bell Ringer.
