Despite busy schedules, students on campus are finding different ways to keep active and stay employed on and off campus.
Student employment is a popular option for students looking to engage with their community, stay active, or make some extra cash during their time at Seton Hall.
However, there are a lot of questions that arise when students are considering applying for a job—how can employment be balanced with students’ schedules? What about transportation to and from the students’ workplace? How can students manage their time effectively? Will having a job affect academic, social, and personal life on campus?
The following individuals all hold jobs while being students at SHU.They were happy to provide their experience to help answer these questions and alleviate some of these fears. Together, their stories illustrate how students can successfully navigate work, academics, and campus life.
Megon Henrym, Resident Assistant
Megon Henrym, a sophomore political science major, is a resident assistant at Xavier Hall. She said the process towards gaining this position was very long, but she remained motivated by an urge to help her community and by tuition aid.
“Room and board being provided helped alleviate the cost of tuition for me,” Henrym said. “I am really passionate about having a strong impact on my SHU community, as well as being able to positively contribute to having students feel at home in their dorms.”
Henrym’s advice to students searching for employment is to make sure they are excited to work the position they’re seeking.
“Don’t just go for the job that’s offering the best money,” she said. “Do what you’re passionate about.”
Veronica Dryl, Blue Crew
Veronica Dryl, a sophomore elementary education major, is a Blue Crew member within SHU’s Office of Admission.
Dryl said she found her job opportunity through events promoted by the university.
“When I was looking for a job on campus, I noticed that Blue Crew had both tablings and posters put up around the school, encouraging people to apply,” she said. “I was very interested in it, so I decided to take the chance.”
Her position at Blue Crew enhanced her college experience while also allowing her to balance her schoolwork, calling the job “definitely student friendly.”
“They don’t allow students to work too many hours throughout the week, as they want to ensure that students can focus on their school work,” Dryl said. “They also schedule shifts around your classes, so you don’t have to worry about missing any.”
Veronica recommends students to apply for Blue Crew, describing her position as an amazing opportunity for students.
“It’s lots of fun and you get to meet some incredible people who make sure this position fits every student,” she said. “This has given me so many fun memories to look back on, and every week I’m excited to go to the office and work with the fantastic people I work with.”
Rian Robinson, cashier and flag football referee
Rian Robinson, a sophomore computer science major, works two jobs off-campus as a cashier and a flag football league referee, commuting from school to work most days of the week.
“It adds a lot of strain,” Robinson said. “It’s especially added some stress regarding time management.”
Despite the commute and hours of his employment, Robinson encourages other students to find jobs on or off campus and to keep an open mind.
“If you have to, learn a new skill for a job or promote your own work by being a tutor or something,” he said. “Keep moving and don’t stop because to get going again takes a lot more effort.”
Naisha Guttikonda, peer tutor
Naisha Guttikonda, a sophomore biology major, works an on-campus job as a peer tutor for the Academic Resource Center (ARC). As a commuter, she does not find any extra strain on her schedule, as her position is very flexible with her schedule.
“This flexibility prevents the job from becoming stressful, which I think makes it very student-friendly,” Guttikonda said. “It’s especially commuter-friendly because it can become your home base for work when you’re not in classes.”
Guttikonda does well with managing her time, especially during the busy periods of exam weeks.
“When it gets close to exam times, the ARC gets busy and I end up having back-to-back appointments during most of my scheduled work times,” she said. “I would say this is when time management becomes important, because this job helps me make a schedule in advance for the entire week so I know exactly what to work on immediately after getting home.”
She also recommends that students searching for job opportunities get in contact with professors or employment managers directly.
“I decided what job to apply for by emailing the person listed as a contact on the job description and asking questions about the position before I applied,” she said. “This will give [students] a better idea of what you’re applying for, how to craft a good application, and helps you get to know the people reading your application so they are more likely to remember your interest in reaching out.”
Should other students apply for a job?
Students who work both on and off-campus recommend that other students get a job during their time at SHU.
From pursuing passions to learning new skills, the students all had positive things to say about being full-time students and working jobs.
Carmine Sortino is a writer for The Setonian’s Features section. He can be reached at carmine.sortino@student.shu.edu.
