As a college student I can honestly say that I know what it’s like to be a student who is struggling to make money. I have tried the entrepreneurship route and I’ve worked for Corporate America as a Cinemark employee for eight years.I’ve seen the good, bad and the ugly. I haven’t thought about the differences and similarities of the two until I saw this on my facebook feed Tuesday night.
Before I came to New Mexico State University I had decided to join on a new business adventure, I saw the opportunity and I said why not? I’m going to be helping people and I’ll be getting money out of it. Cool! Right? Yeah, it turned out it wasn’t all glitz and glam like I thought.
This business was about helping people with critical illness insurance, debt management, cash management and how to create an emergency fund for yourself and more.
You see it wasn’t the fact I had to work to get money. It was just how. In this multi-level marketing (MLM) financial insurance business I was taught that in order to be really successful I had to recruit people to join the cause. Aside from recruiting I had to attend a meeting every Saturday morning and Tuesday night and if possible go every day at 9 a.m. They called it meeting mentality. Aside from recruiting they encouraged me to go on the field. Going out on the field means that that I have to go out into the community and tell people that we are holding interviews and have them do a short survey describing their financial needs. It was starting to be a little much. Even though I was striving to be an entrepreneur in this business I still had to be under someone (that’s what she said) okay sorry! It’s a Michael Scott joke. But, if that was the case I should’ve just stayed at my Cinemark job. I still had to pay money out of my own pocket to attain this so-called business opportunity.
But, the part I disliked the most is when I would tell some of my colleagues that I was going to school they would respond with “why” or “you don’t need a degree now a days” which it is kind of true but you don’t put someone down for trying to get a education either.
Now with my corporate job there were days that I had to work long hours, always on my feet, and dealing with customers. Sometimes I had to sacrifice working on holidays but, you know in a way it taught me that sometimes you are going to be dealing with unfairly bosses or hours getting cut. Was it the most fabulous job? Of course not but when you’re a college student and your living on a tight budget you learn build your character. Yes you struggle but in the end it’s rewarding because it wasn’t just given to you.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, research shows that 72 percent of undergraduate students work and one-fifth of those students work full time.
All I am saying is regardless if you decide to go the entrepreneur route or work for a corporate job don’t let anyone bring you down. A job is still a job. I commend you, especially the students who are working and going to school full and part time.
It’s not the easiest things to do.
By: Victoria Acosta