Haley Shepherd

Waking with the sun, Angel Pickett starts her days at 6 a.m., often skipping breakfast in favor of catching a few more minutes of sleep before heading to class. Between lectures, she can be found in the library getting a head start on assignments. After her final class of the day, it’s straight to work.
Between customers, Pickett studies her psychology textbook until closing. When she returns to her apartment, she studies a little more before heading to bed at midnight — only to repeat it all again the next day.
This is a typical routine for students like Pickett, who balance part-time jobs while pursuing college degrees. The challenges include carving out time to study, finish homework and maintain a social life.
For Pickett, a senior psychology major at the University of Southern Mississippi who works at Lenny’s in Hattiesburg, the key comes down to what she calls the “big T” — timing.
“It took about six months for me to figure out how to work and go to school at the same time. I had to schedule my days down to the T,” Pickett said. “For the most part I have been able to find a balance between work and school. It just leaves very little time for anything outside of the two.”
Pickett spends about 30 hours each week on classwork and studying. On top of that, she works 30 to 50 hours at her job. During rare moments of downtime, she calls her family to catch up on everything she has missed while away at school.
“I am not from the state of Mississippi; my family is thousands of miles away and that can make it hard sometimes. I have two little sisters. That it is hard to find time to communicate because I am jumping from one thing to another,” Pickett said. “And the time difference doesn't help with that.”
Many college students share her struggle. While jobs help cover tuition and living costs, they can also bring stress and feelings of isolation. Still, working during college offers benefits that extend beyond the paycheck.
“So having a part-time job — you gain experience, you gain those competencies that employers are looking for,” said Akin Gilliam, job location and development coordinator at USM. “Some examples would be problem solving, communication, and leadership.”
Working while in school provides students with experiences that can’t always be taught in the classroom, such as budgeting, time management and saving money.
“My job has helped me learn how to manage my time and multitask as a working student,” Pickett said. “The only downside is that I miss out on a lot of the normal student life events.”
Like many others, Pickett has found balance but acknowledges it comes at a cost.
“Honestly, I don’t go to very many school events. I get to do some social activities at school, but mostly if they fall between classes,” she said. “Sometimes it doesn't really feel like I am a part of the USM community.”
Gilliam said having a support system is key. Friends and family can help students stay grounded when their schedules become overwhelming.
“I have multiple friends who help me keep my head on straight,” Pickett said. “They help me with the little things like remembering to sleep and remembering to eat. But I also call my mom as much as I can.”
Being a full-time student can be a job in itself, and adding work to the equation means sacrificing time with friends or personal time.
“You just have to find that balance and a lot of times that is hard, okay? I’m not gonna sugar coat it, a lot of times that is hard,” Gilliam said. “I would like to think that if you have to sacrifice now, you will be greater, later on.”
USM Counseling Services offers resources to help students manage stress. Career Services also provides guidance for students looking for jobs.