Since I've graduated though (unofficially), I've been working part-time as a barista and it's been fun, fun, fun! (Pardon the bad end-of-the-week joke :P)
It was quite spontaneous actually - the way I'd got my job. I was just heading to town to meet up with some friends when I saw a "We're hiring!" sign outside the cafe, so I went in and applied. And before you could say "Tiramisu", I got the job! Well, okay, I still had to go for a proper interview at their headquarters, but the informal interview I had on the spot pretty much sealed the deal.
That's my nametag on my apron over there! See if you can guess where exactly I'm working at :)
Maybe you’re thinking about getting a part time job. As someone who's done the whole juggling schoolwork and work thing, here's what you need to survive the balancing act! (feel free to ignore it if you've found your own method that works for you)
1. Willpower, willpower, willpower!
Meh. That just sounds like some obligatory word that adults (who think they’re wiser) like to throw into conversations, doesn't it? Buuuuuut it is really true. While working part time does give you additional moolah to spend, it drains you of energy you probably could be spending on your projects.
There will be many times when you come back late from work, all tired and ready to crash, only to realize that you still have to finish up some annoying essay. I should know, I’ve done it before. (Sometimes I just get so tempted to just ignore my work. Or do something like the .gif below. Lol.)
But this is a kind of discipline, something that you have to force yourself to do. I guess it also helps too if you have a dream you’re working towards! Sometimes, you might just get so tirrrrrred from pushing yourself so hard. This is when you need advice #2:
2. Set aside time for your projects / studying (and yourself)
Even though I’m working part time, I’m also freelancing on the side as a writer for a music blog, which means I have to come up with 3 blog posts a week!
A huge chunk of my week is taken up thanks to work, and I still have to set aside time for writing in addition to finding time to go out with my friends, or just sleep. Every other day I’m not working, I’m going out. (I keep a diary. Lol.)
In order to get your projects done (and the ones I used to do had a lot of research required), you just have to put aside a special time slot for studying. Say, perhaps 8–10 pm, if you’re a night owl. Or if you study better in the morning, set aside study mornings when you have off days.
Don't end up doing this though. LOL.
Me? I’m more of a night owl, so I find the words flow better when I write at night. This is a personal preference, something you’ll have to discover for yourself.
3. Work towards a dream (you could call it goal. too)!
Dreams are very powerful things. Just because you’re on the cusp of adulthood doesn’t mean you have to give up dreaming. I know a lot of jaded old souls who would tell you that common sense rules the day (and smash your dreams, while they’re at it).
The reason why I’m working so hard? In truth, one part of it is to fund my graduation trip. (Not getting any Father and Mother Scholarship for this, unfortunately!)
But that’s just one part of my goal. My dream is to travel the world. After I graduate from university (my next stop), I want to head over to many, many different places: Korea, Japan, Venice, Australia… you name it, I wanna go there.
I mean, life’s too short to just sit around and think, “I’m never gonna reach that goal, it’s just too hard,” or “It’s too expensive, I won’t be able to visit all these places in my lifetime.” If I thought like that, I would just sit around at home, surfing the internet aimlessly, refreshing tumblr manically, or nap my life away.
And that’s really all the advice I have for you. It’s something that works for me, and I hope that by sharing it helps you too!
Follow me (itsrainin9) on twitter for more updates on when I’ve uploaded a new post! :)