In college, there are very few jobs that let you receive your education while making a little cash. Some students have to resort to taking a job on the Strip or at the nearest mall. Other students are fans of bartending or working at clubs. As far as I'm concerned, the best way for a college student to have a job and successfully maintain their grades is through the Work Study program. 

Work study is a program for students who are eligible for financial aid. You apply for it through Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the amount of hours you can work per week depends upon your financial need.  

This is my third year as a work-study student. I actually found out about work-study during freshman orientation. One of the meetings we had to go to was basically to educate the students about their opportunities at UT. Being a student from out of state, I knew to pay close attention to the financial aid portion of the meeting. 

The hardest part about getting work-study is the fact that either you qualify or you don't. Many students qualify every year and don't accept their award. I think this is because they don't know anything about it.

  Johnathon Tackett, a student at UT, qualified for work-study and accepted it for the first time last year because he had never heard of it. He was really surprised that there was a way for him to work on campus that was conducive to his schedule.

 Another great thing about work-study is that you can pick where you work on campus. Craig Holtzclaw, who handles the program, allows the student to pick a place where they would like to work. The student must make sure that their help is needed before they can commit to that job. 

For instance, if you wanted to work at TRECs, you would ask a manager if they needed student help and then fill out the work-study form. UT needs students all over campus to work at different places.

 My absolute favorite part of work study is the schedule flexibility. Working on campus allows me to have a boss that understands my class work load and is lenient with scheduling.

 I work in the properties department at the Clarence Brown Theatre. The properties master, Christy Fogarty, sets up a schedule with me at the beginning of every semester. If something comes up like an important due date or if I have a test I need to study for, she willingly permits me to leave work early or take the day off. I don't think I could have that kind of flexibility with a job somewhere else.

Working at the properties department also helps me to stay active within the theatre while getting paid for it. I have the ability to make money as well as do something that I really enjoy.

Being a work-study student is a great experience and really allows me to stay involved and keep up my grades. Although it may not pay as much as being a waitress or bartending, I work reasonable hours and have the privilege of an understanding boss.