Balancing school with paying for school

My friend was interviewed by Metro, one of the local daily newspapers. It shows a pretty accurate example of how students are struggling with attending school while paying for school at the same time. Don't forget about all the academic resources on campus to help keep your marks up, like the Library, Student services, and the SMUSA Tutor database!

Student life a juggling act - Skipping class to do course work or go to a job not an uncommon practice
JON TATTRIE

Originally published in 'Metro', October 14, 2008

It’s hard work putting yourself $40,000 in debt; ask Chelsea Adams. The 22-year-old Saint Mary’s University student is taking an honours in environmental studies and a major in biology.

In addition to her 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. role as a student, she’s working 20 hours a week at three jobs. Nova Scotia tuition is among the highest in Canada: Adams pays more than $6,000 a year. Living expenses put that at more than $12,000.

“It’s stressful,” she says, “but I know other people are in the same boat. It’s a rough time now, in the hope that in the end, I’ll get a better job.”

The first casualty of the super-busy student is studying. She sometimes has to skip class to do course work, and “during class, I’m not sitting there absorbing things. I’m doing my homework for my next class.

“You stay up late, get up early — whenever you can fit it in.”

Fuelled by power drinks, the P.E.I. native puts in four or five all-nighters each semester just to get the work done.

Adams also volunteers every week at the Teach English as a Second Language centre and at a cat-rescue clinic.

“You have to,” she says. “On your resumé, education is just part of it. Volunteer work is as important as your marks.”

Part of the problem is that bursaries and scholarships go to students pulling in high GPAs, Adams says. The money gives them time to maintain a 4.0 and volunteer, because they don’t have to work.

“The people who need the money don’t have time to volunteer and don’t have time to study 24/7,” she says.

Asked to imagine a life where she didn’t have to work 20 hours a week and volunteer on top of her studies, she laughs.

“Obviously, my grades would go up. There’s no doubt in my mind. It’s not so much the time, it’s the stress and pressure of it all.”

But she doesn’t regret coming to Nova Scotia. She wanted to study in a big city near home; Halifax, despite its punishing tuitions, was the best option.

And after all that work and money earn Adams her degree in January, she’s heading back to school.

“You can’t get anything with a degree these days,” she explains, so she’s pursuing a master’s.


For the original link the the story, click here: http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/learn/article/125383