By Astride Adrien
Being a college student is not cheap. And with grueling class schedules, most college students cannot work a full-time job. So, they opt to work part-time or on the weekends, and still may not make enough to pay for school, groceries, and living expenses.
So, it is left up to the student to find innovative ways of making money that still allows them the flexibility they need to make it to an 8 a.m. class.
Here are a few of the ways Barry students can secure a side hustle.
Federal Work Study
Whilst staying on campus, federal work study is an option. Federal work study is essentially a federally funded, need-based financial aid program, which gives you the opportunity to earn money for college through part-time employment. The program also provides students the opportunity to secure academic or career-oriented employment while providing essential services to the university.
However, not everyone is qualified for it. To be able to qualify, one needs to be either a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and demonstrate financial need through completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To get a work study job, you must be awarded work study on your financial aid letter and complete a job application online using Workday.
There are numerous work-study positions around campus like being an office assistant, a front desk attendant, a sports manager, or a lab assistant. You can find more information about these positions by visiting the human resources office located in Thompson Hall room 109.
On-campus Business
For those who don’t qualify for work study, starting a student business is always an option.
A student business is where a student creates a service and sells said service to fellow Barry students. Examples of student businesses include grooming hair, photography, selling clothes or shoes.
Daniela Florindez - a fourth-year communication student - is the perfect example of a student entrepreneur. She is a nail technician on campus.
“It is definitely difficult being able to balance both school and work, but I try to schedule appointments on days when I have only one class and can do the appointments in the morning which gives me time to work on assignments in the afternoon,” said Florindez.
It should be noted that running a student business comes with many responsibilities and is not as simple as it may sound. It is even more taxing and stressful to expand your business with competition everywhere.
“It is difficult competing with other nail techs and their prices nowadays,” Florindez said. “Everyone has different prices, and those prices can vary based on what a client wants.”
She manages to keep her clients coming back by one, doing quality work, and two, making sure they're always happy and comfortable with the nails they get. She also manages to maintain a good profit by setting her prices lower than a lot of her competitors.
A normal nail service can run anywhere between $40 and $130, depending on the type of length and design the client wants.
Florindez prices range from $30 to $55, depending on the length.
Gigs and Freelance Work
Another great way to earn some money is by being contracted for a specialized service. A freelancer is a person who performs service for a contracted length of time. There is a variety of services you can offer as a freelancer. For an example, you can be a writer, website designer, editor, translator, data analyst, event planner, and much more.
Andrea Zambrano, a senior graphic design student, works as a freelance graphic designer. She also agrees that it is sometimes difficult to balance her contract work with school, especially when her clients have strict timeframes.
Still, Zambrano says that freelancing has helped her learn how to work more efficiently.
"I have learned to manage my time in a better way, so I have a balance between classes and work. Sometimes it is hard to find that balance, but with good organization skills, anything is possible,” she said.
Earning your own money may be challenging but it is also rewarding.
“With discipline, love, patience and respect everything is possible,” Zambrano said. “Something that is really important is making contacts as much as you can so your social network gets bigger; it will help a lot. However, having experience working on a company first is good to gain even more knowledge for your future as entrepreneur.”
Contact information:
Office of Financial Aid
305-899-3673
Work Study Placement and Hiring
305-899-7890
Daniela Florindez
Nail page: @danicrylic
Andrea Zambrano
Website: www.byandreaz.myportfolio.com
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