Dear first-years,

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and that means you’re soon going to be stressing about what to give to friends and family. If you’re anything like me, you want to give everyone the perfect gift, but that often comes at a cost. Of course, everyone could use a little extra money, but how do you know if you’re ready for an off-campus job?

The first sign that you might be ready is that you’re always on top of your homework and have extra time to spare. During your first-year, your classwork is usually a bit lighter than it will be when you’re an upperclassman, so now might be a great time to get a job and start saving up.

Another sign might be that you just need to spend time off campus. Gustavus can feel very isolating, so if you find that you need to break out of the bubble every now and then to maintain your sanity, getting an off-campus job is the perfect solution. Additionally, I have found in my own experiences that having an off-campus job has made me more mature and ready to tackle tough situations both on-and-off campus.

Finally, it might just be a financial necessity for you. Not everyone is getting monetary support from their parents or other caregivers, or they just need more to make ends meet. If you are a student who is taking on student loan payments while in school, or have other bills such as your phone or insurance, you might need to consider working off-campus. And it’s absolutely okay do so.

There is no shame in getting an off campus job, whatever your reason for it may be. For some, it’s a necessity, and for others it’s just fun. But doing things outside the Gustavus campus truly helps to prepare you for the real world, so if you can manage it, I would recommend finding yourself a job.

Hope this helps,

Marie