<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"It is now a solid month into the semester, and I can most definitely tell that this half of the year is much more difficult than the first half. Last semester, many of my classes were smaller and much more participation-oriented, which meant that there was a lot less reading involved. Since all my classes are huge lectures this semester, I have so much reading to do on a nightly basis. (Note to self: Take a mix of both small and large classes each semester.) Because my course load is much more rigorous, I have a lot less time to devote to working, getting involved with extracurricular activities and hanging out with friends. And, I&amp;#039;m SO tired. Though, I would have to say that balancing a job and classes is probably the most difficult aspect to the whole dilemma. Before I began working as a media intern for my school, I never really had an official job beyond being a babysitter and tutor, so the additional stress from having a job while trying to get my bearings as a freshman in college definitely proved as an adjustment. While I really love my job, sometimes I wish I weighed the pros and cons of working while in school more heavily. In hindsight, here are what I find to be both the positive and negative aspects of having a job while in college: Pros:  1. Added Cash Flow: It&amp;#039;s so nice to have a little extra money to spend when most college students have the reputation for being perpetually broke. Depending on the job you select, you may have the opportunity to work well above minimum wage. As a media intern, I&amp;#039;m expected to have some prior experience in the world of social media and blogging (I knew my addiction to Twitter would come in handy \u2013 follow me, @UndeniablyKatie!), so the pay is higher. 2. Discipline: I definitely feel that having a job helps me to prioritize, even when I&amp;#039;m not at work. When balancing work and classes, I know that I have to always be on top of things. 3. Work Experience: A lot of times, you can get at job at your school that pertains directly to your intended major. Going into the field of journalism, I realize that I can increase the likelihood of getting hired after college if I have a lot of experience in the field, so being a media intern is perfect for me. Cons:    1. No Naps: This may seem like a trivial matter to those of you who have yet to start college, but naps are essential for your sanity because they&amp;#039;re, oftentimes, the only opportunity you&amp;#039;ll have to catch up on sleep. I always have to squeeze working in between my classes, so I don&amp;#039;t really get those odd breaks in the day like most people do. 2. Few Chances to Get Involved: Since I work about 10 hours every week, I consider my job an extracurricular activity in and of itself, and I don&amp;#039;t really have the opportunity to be involved with as many clubs as I&amp;#039;d like. Plus, you also can&amp;#039;t take as many credit hours as you&amp;#039;d like. I was originally taking 16 this semester, but I had to drop down to 13 because my schedule was too hectic. 3. Late Nights: All that reading and homework you have isn&amp;#039;t going to do itself, and sometimes you won&amp;#039;t be able to start it until after dinner if you have work and classes all day. It can get pretty rough some nights. &amp;quot;The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.&amp;quot; -Unknown No worry beef curry, XOs, and all that other jazz, Katie :) Thinking about getting job while in school? Let me know by leaving a comment below!  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.seventeen.com/life/school/advice/a14593/pros-and-cons-of-working/>