Hard at Work: Student Spotlight: Lilijana Chufo, senior Political Science honors student.
College is difficult enough without the precarious juggling act of having a job, academic workload, and extracurriculars. But for a growing number of students, having a job while in college is necessary in order to shoulder the rising cost of tuition. According the National Student Financial Wellness Study , seven out of ten college students feel stressed about their personal finances. Nearly 60% worry about having enough money to pay for school, while 50% are concerned about paying their monthly expenses.
While FSU has resources available to aid students in affording tuition and life in Tallahassee, many students still rely on the income their jobs provide. However, with the already busy life of a full-time student, how do students working one (or more) jobs find time to study or even sleep? We interviewed one Honors senior, about how she manages her two jobs as a server and a barista, schoolwork, and her LSAT prep!
As a student, how do you manage your class workload alongside your jobs? "As an honors student, I have to take at least 15 hours a semester, and I have to maintain a certain GPA for the honors program and scholarships. To best balance work and school commitments, I have been putting as many of my classes as possible on the same days every week. I was fortunate enough this semester to have all of my classes on T/Th, so I work on days I don’t have class. It helps a lot to have designated days for work and school, and my bosses have been very accommodating if school commitments come up unexpectedly."
Has the cost of university made it necessary to work to afford to attend FSU? "I was lucky enough to receive full Bright Futures for FSU tuition, as well as a university scholarship. Combined with random small scholarships I’ve received, the costs of tuition and books are completely covered. However, as addressed earlier, there are so many factors that go into affording school. If tuition was the only factor, I would be set. Unfortunately, my off-campus rent, health insurance costs for the university center, and a litany of other factors are enough of a financial burden to require me to work. It’s hard balancing financial need with scholastic need, and I definitely wouldn’t be going to Florida State if I couldn’t work."
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