(Archive April 2017) Full-Time Student Juggles Full-Time Job and Social Life

By Brianna Stevens | Observer Contributor

Just as many other college students, Tristen LaClair, 20, a graphic design major at MWCC, struggles with balancing a full-time job and being a full-time student.

 “I almost failed a class last semester because I was so over-worked,” LaClair recalled.        

He explained that he worked as a Food Service Aide at Heywood Hospital, and the kitchen has been so short staffed for so long, that he has had to work over 40 hours each week. He said he managed to pull his grades up in time to pass his classes, but by the skin of his teeth. 

When asked why he does not just go find a new job, he replied, “I’ve thought about it, but the pay is decent and I really like most of my coworkers.” 

He said that every holiday he gets paid time-and-a-half, and on the weekends he gets a shift differential, which was about a dollar more than his usual pay. This, combined with having to start at the bottom with a new job, compels him to continue his work at Heywood Hospital. 

When asked how he manages to balance everything, LaClair chuckled, explaining that he doesn’t really, “Honestly, most of the time, I’m just making it up as I go.” He said he always prioritizes school over work. Work is just an extra, and school is his main job. 

He goes to school in the morning and works in the afternoons and evenings. He does homework after work each night. LaClair brought up an image of a diagram in which you must choose between a social life, enough sleep, and good grades, and you can only choose two. He said, “Most of the time I choose social life and regret it,” because he ends up losing sleep.

LaClair has been attending the Mount for four semesters and plans to get his associate’s degree before moving on. What comes next for him is transferring to Fitchburg State University to continue his education and receive his bachelor’s degree. He is unsure if he will continue to work at Heywood Hospital, or if he will attempt to find an internship in his intended field, but he will definitely continue to balance work and school until he achieves his dreams.