The working student

CEBU, Philippines - The life of a student is not easy. The ones who are naturally slow have to keep up with the rest of the class. And even the ones with superior learning abilities are pressured to stay at the top..

The student’s situation is daunting enough. Yet not as daunting as when the student has something equally important to busy himself or herself with. Many students have to do jobs in order to see themselves through school - the working students.

If the term "working student" does not seem to elicit sympathetic feeling anymore, it may be because the number of these extraordinarily hard-pressed young people have grown so much that they have already become commonplace. Or, in a poor country like the Philippines, working students have come to be expected; otherwise, young people would only seal their fate in the poverty they were born into.

But poverty is not the only 'qualification' for one to be a working student. One also needs to be doggedly determined and of solid personal qualities to be able to face up to the challenge. A working student necessarily lives two lives all at the same time - as worker and as student.

The worker needs to be good in the performance of his or her job, so that he or she may keep the job. The student needs the income to defray the expenses entailed in going to school. And at school it is important for the student to do well, too, in order to justify the hard-earned money spent in his or her studies.

Anyone who has the need to work in order to be able to go to school or is confident to have what it takes to work and go to school at the same time may try being a working student. It is never a self-effacing engagement - but self-elating instead. For, again, it is a special person who can carry two major life undertakings simultaneously.

In this day and age, those who want to try working and attending school at the same time are blessed with various options. The number of options, though, does not mean these jobs are easy. But at least the prospective working student may choose a job that best fits his or her abilities and available time.

Online Jobs

The advent of the internet has opened a whole new world of job opportunities. This is not only talking of job vacancies advertized on the internet, but jobs to be done through the internet. For example, there's a big need for writers at certain websites.

Also, online secretaries are becoming a trend nowadays, for such secretarial jobs as receiving and taking note of calls for certain clients. Those who are good conversationalists may also do an online service 'talking' to homebound people who need good conversation to stimulate their minds. Ironically, the job entails mostly 'listening'. 

Those with already some grammar-and-composition training may offer resume-writing or term-paper coaching online. Tutorial in certain subjects is another way to go. There are many ways to fill up people's needs - via the internet.

Blog Site

Essentially still an online job, running one's own blog site can be done right in the bedroom. But, here, one is an entrepreneur. The blogger only needs to fill up his or her blog site with original content - interesting articles that he or she has written and other things, like videos or photos, that he or she owns. Income can be generated by advertisements placed at the blog site. And so the blogger has to see to it that people 'visit' the blog site. Advertisers want their ads to be really seen by people.

Fastfood Crew

This job option is quite popular. Most of the service crew at fastfood joints are students. The work shifts at fastfood restaurants allow for students to attend classes at school. An extra edge - the productivity and service trainings at these places teach the working student to accomplish more in less time and do proper customer service. Such learning remains with the student worker after graduation and can be very helpful in starting one's own business.

Moreover, having to deal with customers also enhances the worker's self-confidence and communication skills.

School Job

Most schools allow their qualified students to do certain jobs in exchange for free tuition. This is good training for students, too, and can make them familiar with the school officials, so they may be able to approach them (the officials) when they need to. And the school administration is likely to be considerate in dealing with its working students.

Paid Corporate Internship

These days, many companies need extra 'hands and feet'. These companies welcome students to do menial office jobs, like operating the photocopy machine, answer customer inquiries etc. They prefer to have student interns to perform these jobs, rather than hire regular employees to do it.

The added benefit here is the training that the student intern gets. The job acquaints him or her in the real corporate environment as preparation for a full-time job later. 

Again, juggling school with a job can be a real challenge. It takes a strong person - physically, mentally and spiritually. It takes good balance, as well - of one's activities, and of one's attention. (FREEMAN)