Working while studying is honestly a grind. I’m a 3rd-year student doing 20 hours a week at a café, and here’s the real talk:
Pros: money helps cover rent, food, and textbooks. Gives you independence and some adulting skills you don’t learn in class.
Cons: exhaustion is real. By the time I get home, my brain is fried, and studying feels impossible. Social life? Almost gone. Deadlines sneak up faster because my attention is split.
Advice: plan your schedule like a spreadsheet - block study time and work time strictly. Learn to say no to extra shifts if an exam’s coming. Keep at least one day mostly free to recharge. Trust me, a steady balance beats earning extra cash and failing your classes.