To Work or not to Work? That is the dilemma...

Yesterday I attended a panel discussing the pros and cons about working during college, entitled Is it Worth It? Can You Work It?

From what I listened to, yes it is possible to work during your undergraduate career, it takes a good amount of balancing and prioritizing, but the benefits can be extremely rewarding.

Of course you get paid for your work, but the people you meet and the connections you may make as an employee are far greater than your paycheck.

One panelist said she works for Alderman library, checking out books. One day she began conversing with a graduate student who was checking out a book in a specific field she was interested in. As the two continued to talk, the graduate student was able to offer a internship to her in this particular field of study.

Each panelist had similar stories of  various connections they made with people who lead them to internships or other jobs. The saying, it's not what you know, but who you know was stressed at this meeting. Working on grounds has its many perks. You are able to interact with faculty, your peers, and older students, who can serve as your mentors. When applying to graduate school or a job, employers and schools ask for letters of recommendation. An employer in college can be a great source of recommendations because they can attest to your work skills, which employers would like to know about alongside your academic performance.

After going to this very informative meeting, I am sure I will seek employment through UVa my 2nd year. It will be nice to make a little extra cash but even more rewarding to make various connections that can lead to my career in the future.

-VG