Many of us have to juggle many different roles as young adults. We are students, we have jobs, as well as friends and extracurricular activities we are involved in. Finding a way to handle all these things while still finding time to sleep and eat is far from obvious. Here, Marie Messier, a seasoned pro on the topic, gives us her perspective and tips on how to best find a healthy balance.
Val Namaki for Her Campus McGill: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us. Let’s start off simple: tell us a bit about yourself.
Marie-Pier Messier: My name is Marie-Pier, and I’m in my fourth year at McGill as an International Development Studies and Economics double major, but I spent some time as a Biology major at some point in there. I currently work at Alto’s at 3469 Parc Avenue! I started working there on the day they reopened- August 15, 2018- but before that I was at McGill Phonathon as a Student Tracer for a while. The excitement from the Milton-Parc community concerning our reopening has translated into the best professional experience for me, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work at this family owned, Montréal establishment. While I’m in my fourth year, I’ll be doing at least another year in Montréal to finish up my program, so I’m looking forward to working at Alto’s for a good while.
HC McGill: What do you find to be the biggest challenge as a working student?
Marie: My biggest challenge, even before I was a working student, was time management. Almost every student I know struggles with balancing school with other activities they prioritize, and at McGill, it’s very easy to get caught up in all the extracurriculars and social activities. In previous years, I’ve found myself spending more time fulfilling commitments to extracurriculars than those of my classes, which shouldn’t be the case. I think coming to the realization that you can’t do it all is very important, but it can be difficult when you see people who you perceive as doing so many more things than you.
HC McGill: How do you find having to handle work and school with your social life has affected your college experience?
Marie: Working basically 40 hours a week on top of being a full time student is hard: there’s no way around that. I’m very involved with my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, but this year, I had to be honest with myself about how much time I realistically had to dedicate to it. Working in the service industry is also tricky because your hours aren’t always concrete, but in the end, I’m grateful for the stability I get from working. Yes, I’ve given up my Friday and Saturday nights in exchange for working, but there are a lot of positives to working those nights! Instead of going out, I’m actually making money, and I end up seeing a lot of the same people coming into the restaurant than I would on a night out anyways. Overall, I’ve probably met and connected with more of the McGill community by being a night waitress at Alto’s than I have just going out with my normal friends.
HC McGill: What do you do to be able to ensure a balance?
Marie: On my days off, I spend quality time with my friends between and after classes. I also always dedicate my Thursday nights to going to my sorority meetings: as cheesy as it may sound, seeing all my sisters in one place really lifts up my mood. Another incredibly important part of balancing everything is being honest with your employer about the importance of your education. I’m lucky in the sense that the owners of Alto constantly check up with me about school and let me study during slow times; they understand that my schooling comes first and work comes second. I’m very lucky to be employed by a family of people who genuinely care about me as a person, and not just as an employee.
HC McGill: What tips do you have for others who might be struggling to do the same?
Marie: Communicate with your employer! It may be intimidating at first, but you need to set up realistic expectations for yourself. If you push yourself to the point of burning out, you won’t be benefiting yourself at school, your job, or your employer: what’s the point then? Don’t try to do it all when it comes to extracurriculars or social activities, but when you do go out, make it count. In the end, everyone is different and every culture at work will be different, but honesty with yourself and your boss will always be the best bet, in my opinion. Being a working student is really difficult, so don’t be afraid to ask for help from those around you. There’s absolutely no shame in needing support, whether it be from McGill or your peers!
Images obtained from interviewee