Balancing being a student and working can be challenging at times, especially if you are first generation and must learn the college lifestyle on your own while still supporting yourself and/or your family financially. When I initially attended college, it was a surprise since I did not understand how costly education can be as even the little expenses creep up. For example, textbooks, goggles, lab coats, dissection kits, and other supplies, not to mention transportation and meal plans. This can have an impact on one’s capacity to go out and attend social events as so many activities have a price like restaurants, museums, and fairs. Nevertheless, one thing I did to help support myself and my finances was to begin working part-time on campus, as well as working as a research assistant, which pays in stipends. Research your institution’s resources, for instance, if you are a STEM major look for resources like CSTEP that provide low-income students with additional financial aid. You may also seek on-campus jobs so that you can work while in your gaps in between classes. One crucial lesson I learned was that there will always be resources to help support you- the first step is researching and reaching out!
