Working and Studying

Hello!

This will probably be a brief post because I just wanted a place to vent.

As you may know, I am currently a second year (almost third year) full time university student. Sadly, I also have no income since I do not have a part time job. I did have a part time job when I first started university in first year, but that ended in a horrible way because I had to drop a class, I fell behind in all classes (since I never had time to finish my practice problems bc I take math heavy courses), and my job was really demanding.

This obviously led to a horrible outcome in terms of marks, despite me having to quit with two weeks notice in early November of 2016. By then, the damage was already done. One of my courses was a full year course too, so that carried onto second semester and obviously, my mark was terrible (dropped my cGPA).

Because of that event, I basically figured out that working and studying at the same time probably wasn't for me. I honestly felt like shet because I was so set on maintaining a work and study lifestyle like how most of my peers from highschool did...but obviously, I couldn't. I'm not really willing to take the risk again with finding a job while studying since my courses are heavy and very time consuming, and obviously that will have an effect on my mental/physical/emotional health AND my gpa.

I always wondered how people managed to work and study at the same time. When I actually think back about my own experience, I felt that the job was really demanding for a part time job. The manager would always demand me to come to work whenever I don't have classes. He doesn't think that I actually HAVE HOMEWORK to do after class...not just go to lecture and be done with it. I don't have those pure memorization based classes!! Maybe life would have been simpler if I did lol. Thinking back about how many hours I dropped for this job a week...it was definitely more than what a part time job should be. I would normally take on a full time shift on weekends, and a 6 hour shift on two of the weekdays. Typically part time jobs are at most 20 hours per week. I was taking on a full time course load for school too, so it was understandable how I didn't have the time to finish my homework. I even do some of my notes and homework during my lunch break (30 mins) but you don't get much done at all during that time since I already lose 10 mins alone just walking to clock out for lunch, then walk upstairs to the employee lockers to get my stuff, THEN find a table to do work at.

Maybe I was just unlucky to get a job that demanded a lot of hours while being demanding af lol. Everytime I'm done a shift, I'd be so exhausted by the time I get home. I even was on a nocturnal schedule since I took only afternoon and evening classes in my first year, so my work schedule did not help at all.

Overall, the job was alright (mainly due to my wonderful coworkers), but the department was understaffed AF. My manager refused to hire more part time workers WHEN WE CLEARLY NEEDED IT. There was legit only 6 people in total. We were always understaffed. Most of the time, evening shifts were done by 1 person...but in reality, you need 2 people for that. I can see why my coworkers were doing terrible in school too. One of them ended up dropping out of her school because of this job (she didn't have the luxury to quit because she needed the finances).

There was a flaw about my manager outside of him not hiring more people and not actually doing his job (he slacks off and takes on the easy jobs of the department since HE'S THE MANAGER). I didn't appreciate how he didn't understand that some people can have a sick day BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GO TO THE DOCTOR. Or the fact that he didn't believe in mental health overall. He basically ran under the mindset that if you look physically fine, then you are good to work. But even then, one time, I got really sick and it lasted for 2 weeks. He didn't understand that I needed more sick days. It took so much effort to actually talk to him on the phone (I had a throat infection and the cold). He still made me go in lol. I could barely use my voice (talking is very important bc you need to talk to serve the customers). I was not feeling up to par at all, yet I still had to work the full time shift. The dude never allows you to leave early even when you're clearly sick af. He just wasn't understanding of the part time workers imo in terms of health and other obligations. He always takes the better shifts since he's the one who makes the schedules anyways. Honestly I think he abused his position as the manager. He was really good with his words though, so he would appear to be a very likeable person lol.

I do miss having an income though because I could actually purchase stuff without second thoughts! Nowadays, I just basically look at something I want, but cannot have since I don't have the funds for it. For example, the new upcoming BTS album Love Yourself: Tear, AND THEIR UPCOMING CONCERT AT HAMILTON OMG. If I had a job omg....but sadly school comes first. Even BTS Pied Piper says so.

One day I shall go to their concert. One day. I made the vow back in 2015 and I shall stick to it (with the exception to IU). I never went to an actual concert before, that's why. I vowed to have my first concert be a BTS concert (IU is ok too). I love them both.

Until then!

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Update: I managed to find a new library at school that I really love because it's empty, and PIN DROP SILENT. It is called the Earth Sciences Library at uoft. Major benefit: 4 plugs to yourself at the desk. The desk is also really huge (my ideal workspace). The chair is EXTREMELY COMFY TOO. It's right beside the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Library (I usually hang there), so it's not that much of a drastic change!! Photos attached below!! It's a circular room!!

#school #work #rant #thoughts #updates