By Camryn Dilla / Staff Writer

For many Missouri Valley students, their days don’t end after class. It continues at jobs across campus and the community, where balancing school and work has become a part of their daily routine. 

Managing both responsibilities can be difficult, but students say time management and organization make it possible to stay on track.

Senior Audrey Short, a kennel technician, said she works between 25 and 30 hours a week while also taking a full course load. Short said one of the biggest challenges is keeping up with everything while still maintaining a personal life.

“The most challenging part of working while being a student is showing up for the everyday work and classes and attending the extra events while still leaving time for my social life and workouts,” She said

To stay organized, she relies on a simple system. 

“I like to keep things simple by using a whiteboard calendar where I write out my class and work schedule for the week,” Short said. “Since I see it multiple times throughout the day, it helps remind me of everything I have going on.” 

Freshman Zhaire Ricks, who works in game day operations, said having a job does not negatively affect her academic performance, but it requires planning. 

“Personally, having a job doesn’t impact my academic performance,” Ricks said. “It’s very important to know how to handle both.” 

Ricks said she plans her schedule ahead of time to stay on top of her responsibilities.

“I plan my week ahead. I look at my work schedule first and plan around it,” Ricks said. “One day I’ll study, and the next day I’ll do my homework.”

She added that using free time wisely can make a big difference.

“On your downtime, definitely take advantage of it and get ahead in your work,” Ricks said.

Freshman Brianna Wyenandt, a Chick-fil-A assistant manager and student-athlete, said she always prioritizes school first. 

“For me, school has always come first before anything because I worked hard to get where I am with my education,” Wyenandt said. 

Wyenandt said balancing both responsibilities can be difficult, especially on days when motivation is low. 

“The most challenging part has been having the ability and mindset to juggle both at the same time,” Wyenandt said. “There are days I don’t want to go to class or work, but I still do because I am responsible for both.”

As more students take on jobs while in school, balancing both has become a common part of college life. For many at Missouri Valley, learning how to manage time, stay organized, and stay disciplined is just as important as what they learn in the classroom.