12 Oct 2020

Final exams combined with work, sport and a social life can often feel like you're performing a juggling act in cirque du soleil. But if there were one single thing I don't regret about my final year in school, it would be keeping my casual job during my final exams. 

While all my friends quit their casual jobs at maccas and the local woolies to focus on their studies, I worked 12 hours a week in my hospo job. I'm the perfect example that you can bring in some cash and get good marks. Hannah Montana was right, you can have the best of both worlds. It's all about balance. 

 

It gave me a well-deserved break

You need to take a break from study at some point... for your own sanity! The perfect thing about my crappy hospo job was that I had no choice but to step away from my desk. 

I had no time to look at my phone or look at my notes because I was too busy answering phones and waiting tables. I literally didn't have a spare second to scratch myself let alone think about any school related dramas. It is so refreshing to take a step back and realise there's more to life than exams and school. 

It made me more productive

I've said it before and I'll say it again for those people in the back: plan and prioritise!!!!

I made a schedule and I stuck to it. It included time dedicated to study, watching Netflix, celebrating an 18th, playing sport and work. I felt like I wasn't drowning in studies and the time I spent studying was sooo much more productive. There’s little room to procrastinate when you’ve got a job. 

I had extra cash

With the end of exams, comes the end of school. Which means party time baby!

My casual job funded my schoolies trip, 18th's, formal attire, and countless maccas runs. It felt so good not to feel like I was scabbing off my parents. 

It enabled me to socialise 

Work friends are honestly the best kind of friends. Will you see each other outside of work? Probs not. But you'll talk copious amounts of sh*t and know each other's deepest, darkest secrets. 

These special work friends gave me the ability to keep my social life somewhat intact. I was surrounded by people who listened to me rant, comforted me when I cried and made me laugh until my belly hurt. I wouldn't have been able to get through my final exams without them!

Keeping my job and having some sort of balance kept me sane during my final year. But if you're really struggling you can reduce your hours, take some time off around exams or ask for shorter shifts. Hang in there, it'll all be over soon!