By Leslie Bleess, Jasmine Shackleford, Sophia Arndt
The cost of college has risen faster than any other household expense over the past few decades. Since the start of the 21st century, it has risen 41.7% faster than inflation.
We found three college students who work while studying and followed them in their daily lives to understand how they make ends meet, how it impacts their mental health and what can be learned from their busy schedules.
Finding routine with Mackenzie
Mackenzie O’Meara is a third-year student at the University of Minnesota studying strategic communications. On top of being a full-time student, she works upwards of 30 hours a week between her two jobs at the Gopher Ticketing Office and Dick’s Sporting Goods. O’Meara also commutes for about 35 to 45 minutes to get from her mom’s house to the University of Minnesota.
After a couple of years of this lifestyle, she has found routine, gratitude and her friends to be the key to keeping happy despite her heavy financial burdens.
Finding balance with Lucas
As a second-year student in the political science program at the University of Minnesota, Lucas Vasquez is no stranger to hard work. Since graduating from high school, Vasquez wanted to pursue a future in policy-making and positive impact. But college hasn’t been an easy feat; Vasquez is paying the entirety of his tuition bill out of pocket, with the help of some financial aid.
To keep up with the ever-growing pile of bills, Vasquez is working multiple jobs to cover the cost. During his fall semester, Vasquez worked three jobs on top of his course load, which began to have a major impact on his grades and social life.
Now, Vasquez is slowing down where he can and taking the time to enjoy his life at college, while still making enough to pay tuition. With summer on the horizon, Vasquez says he’s looking forward to the extra time to work and save money before his graduation in the fall.
The mental toll with Annie
Annie Grigor transferred to the University of Minnesota after two years at a community college. She works as both a nanny and a Sunday school teacher while studying to make ends meet. It’s a difficult lifestyle that takes a toll on her mental health. However, the chaos is normal for her and many other college students.