Introduction
Whether college students should have jobs while attending university sparks various opinions worldwide. In 2020, 40% of full-time undergraduate students and 74% of part-time undergraduates were employed (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). This matter is vital, as some believe that college students should work to gain hands-on experience and essential skills. In contrast, opponents argue that focusing exclusively on academics enhances performance and personal development.
Debates Regarding Working College Students
College students should strive to gain hands-on experience and develop essential skills. The supporters of this opinion emphasize the value of empirical interactions and how students can gain a deeper understanding of the setting in which they exist. First, a job provides students with real-world experience and skills relevant to their future careers. This is because they can apply theoretical knowledge in tangible settings. This could enhance students’ understanding and help them become more prepared for post-university work (Mello & Wattret, 2021).
Second, working part-time can contribute to a student’s financial independence and reduce the burden of student loans. This is because work teaches responsibility, time management, and the value of hard work (Baik et al., 2019). This could lead to students fostering a strong work ethic. For these reasons, college students should have jobs to gain practical experience and develop imperative skills.
On the other hand, focusing solely on studies allows for better academic performance and personal growth. The supporters of this opinion emphasize the importance of proceeding step by step and acquiring skills and knowledge efficiently. First, the demanding nature of college studies requires a significant amount of time and effort. Working students may struggle to balance their academic responsibilities with job commitments. It could lead to stress, burnout, and reduced academic performance (Day, 2020).
Second, student years represent a unique period for personal growth and exploration. Students could engage in more extracurricular activities without the added pressure of a job. This could lead to more social interactions contributing to students’ holistic development (Kelliher et al., 2019). For these reasons, focusing solely on studies improves academic performance and personal growth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, some believe that college students should work to acquire practical experience and essential skills. In contrast, others argue that dedicating all their time to studies leads to improved academic success and personal development. Clearly, there are strong arguments on both sides of this issue. For example, students can obtain real-world experience and focus on gaining tangible knowledge.
Still, college studies require a lot of time and effort, so having a job could compromise academic performance. I suggest that students work part-time or do not work at all to create enough room for enhanced academic performance. I believe that removing full-time jobs from college students’ agendas will help resolve the issue of whether college students should have jobs while achieving higher education.
References
Baik, C., Larcombe, W., & Brooker, A. (2019). How universities can enhance student mental wellbeing: The student perspective. Higher Education Research & Development, 38(4), 674-687. Web.
Day, C. (2020). How teachers’ individual autonomy may hinder students’ academic progress and attainment: Professionalism in practice. British Educational Research Journal, 46(1), 247-264. Web.
Kelliher, C., Richardson, J., & Boiarintseva, G. (2019). All of work? All of life? Reconceptualising work‐life balance for the 21st century. Human Resource Management Journal, 29(2), 97-112. Web.
Mello, L. V., & Wattret, G. (2021). Developing transferable skills through embedding reflection in the science curriculum. Biophysical Reviews, 13(6), 897-903. Web.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). College Student Employment. IES. Web.