By Zeniya Cooley
College has always been a balancing act for students. From clubs to internships, learners have had to juggle multiple responsibilities on top of their classes.
However, with 74 percent of college students now considered “nontraditional”—a label used to describe learners who aren’t the typical 18-year-old recently graduated from high school—today’s students are managing more responsibilities, including full and part-time jobs.
According to the Lumina Foundation, 64 percent of college students work. Working students face unique challenges in navigating college, from struggling to find classes that accommodate their work schedules to experiencing fatigue.
30-year-old Cerise Jones, who is enrolled in Central Carolina’s surgical technology program, has certainly experienced the latter challenge. As a part-time student, part-time employee at Destination Spa, and full-time mother to two children, Jones has had many long days.
“My mornings are early,” she said. “[I get up at] four o’clock in the morning to be in my clinical site at six, come back home around five, [and] do all my motherly and wifely duties.”
Jones completes all of those duties by 9 or 10 PM. This is around the same time her children go to sleep. Jones then transitions to studying for her classes.
Her time management skills have helped her maintain a healthy work-life balance. To keep track of her appointments and assignments, Jones said she has a calendar on her bedroom wall and carries other calendars in her purse and bookbag. She also follows a strict schedule.
“I try to set aside at least two hours a day [for] studying and catching up on my case studies,” said Jones. “Then, I only work about ten hours a week, so that kind of gives me more time with the kids, and I don’t [work on] weekends. I try to dedicate that time to schooling or family.”
Jones added that Central Carolina has provided support to help her manage her commitments. She mentioned that the school’s financial aid has lessened her financial burden and that her instructor, Brie Weber, has offered flexible options for completing her clinical rotations.
“I do speak to my instructor when I get overwhelmed,” Jones said. “She kind of accommodated me with a couple of [clinical] sites that were closer to home so I didn’t have to drive that hour to the site.”
Daniel Pinckney, 34, said he, too, feels overwhelmed sometimes. Pinckney works full-time at Continental Tire, a tire manufacturer, and takes classes as a student in Central Carolina’s mechatronics program. He’s also a single father to a 16-year-old son.
“It really is a lot to deal with,” Pinckney said over email. “But it is possible to do as long as [I] balance [my] time wisely.”
Pinckney’s time management strategy consists of using his free time between work and school to study and submit assignments for his online courses. Whenever he feels stressed, he said he takes a quick break and does something relaxing so he can “refocus and get back on the task.”
For additional support, Pinckney relies on his mother and other family members. They check in with him regularly and lend a helping hand when they can.
When asked what advice he’d give to other students who are trying to balance work and school, Pinckney encourages them not to give up.
“The hard work that you are putting in will pay off,” he assured.
Cerise Jones, the surgical technology student, offers her own advice for fellow working students and adult learners.
“Set boundaries [and] make sure you’re on the same page as your significant other or your family,” she said
Jones also emphasized the importance of creating and sticking to a schedule. “Do not deviate [from it] because, once you deviate, it’s hard to get back on track.”
For other students hoping to strike the right balance between work, school, and life, Central Carolina offers ample resources to ensure their success. From providing flexible course formats—including evening, weekend, online, and in-person classes—to awarding scholarships to alleviate the financial stress of pursuing an education, the college is committed to helping every learner thrive, regardless of their schedule or stage in life.