College student finds job and studies tough to balance

Janese Davis is enrolled in the Film and Broadcasting program at East York’s Centennial College.

Janese Davis is feeling the pressures of being a full-time student while working at a part-time job. Around her neck hangs a Nikon camera, that Davis said cost about $800 to purchase.

“I work part-time at a retail store. I make $10.25 per hour,” she said. “This semester I actually paid $3,000 in tuition.”

Davis is a full-time student enrolled in the Film and Broadcasting program at Centennial College. She said she usually leaves her house by 7:30 a.m. to make it to her 8:30 classes. They last until 11:30 a.m. when she heads off to work for 2 p.m.

She said it’s sometimes difficult to balance her job with her school work. She works at La Senza in Scarborough Town Centre.

“Sometimes they schedule me on days I have booked off for class,” she said. “It’s ridiculous. I have a test to study for and they don’t care. They just want me to work”.

Davis explained that time management is a difficult part of working and studying.

“School expects more of my time and my workplace grabs more of my time. I’m surprised I’m not working today,” Davis said.

Euginia Leslie is a student financial advisor at Everest College in Scarborough. She said that working while in post-secondary school helps students cope with real-world situations.

“It’s just a matter of budgeting,” Leslie said. “Cut down on expenses such as gadgets and stuff like that and sacrificing for a bit while they’re in school. I encourage them into juggling part time work and school”.

Davis lives at home with her mother and said she does not use credit cards or sign contracts with utility providers because she is trying to keep her credit as clear as possible.

Leslie doesn’t believe post-secondary students should have so much access to credit.

“I think they should stop giving students credit until they are mature in terms of their financial obligations,” she said, “especially for students who already have bad credit. To give them another credit card is not helping them.”

Despite frugal spending habits, Davis said she cannot help but notice the rate money coming in is much slower than the rate of money going out.

About this article

By: Clarisa Pessoa
Posted: Nov 2 2012 4:20 am
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Filed under: Arts & Life
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