Many students find it difficult to balance the daily activities that are part of a college lifestyle. Like myself, a typical college student may spend as much as 80 hours in school and work per week. They can feel stressed due to the amount of time they put into school and their part-time or full-time jobs. Due to work hours, class preparation, family and social obligations, it can be challenging to maintain the college lifestyle.
As with anyone, students can have different jobs. However, grocery stores can be easier to work for because they are able to accommodate their schedules. This is possible because their company has so many employees. The worker may work as much as forty hours in a single week. It is a physically demanding job that can make you tired. It is difficult to finish school work on time. In order to balance their work and family life, students may struggle.
A student who works full-time can participate in many activities. Students typically work 30 hours or more per week. The student will encounter many people, places and things while working. Customer service workers in grocery stores, for example, may deal with up to 70 customers in a single four-hour shift. The encounters are varied. A customer might ask if a product is available or if there are any at the back. These items can be found in a freezing-cold cooler, on a muggy, non-air-conditioned back dock or even out in the scorching heat. I remember having to stock up eggs while working in the supermarket department. Although this is a common task in the grocery industry, it can be a real pain. To stock eggs, you must first go into the cooler to lift the crate from the backstock cart and place it on the shelf or floor. It may not seem like a heavy crate, but the Styrofoam and eggs combined can make you struggle to reach your desired destination. If the carton has been damaged in transit, you will have to remove the eggs carefully. The typical underpaid grocery worker is likely to encounter many more messes. It is important to keep an eye out for any spilled food or other damaged items. If a worker is very sensitive to smell, such as myself, then they may be able to smell eggs that have been cracked, crushed or dropped. The smell of raw, dried eggs is certainly not pleasant. This is just one of many situations a clerk may encounter. The mother may even see a single mom yelling at her children to “get asses” to where she was as fast as possible. It’s surprising to learn that this aggressive order is common in grocery stores. It is then that the children rush to her before the mother can change color. Most children are well-behaved but some will not listen to their mother’s screaming. The mass of customers, shoppers and workers are all forced to look at her in confusion and wonder what she was thinking.
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Students can achieve a healthy balance between school, work and play, even though college can be a stressful time. Students may have to endure late nights, bags beneath their eyes, and an energizing amount of caffeine. But once they find the right balance, it allows them to enjoy the small things. It can be as simple as laying in bed a little longer or going to a different taco restaurant on your lunch break. Once the student has found a balance, college will be a more enjoyable experience.
