Today: Mar 29, 2024

Will increasing minimum wage help students?

Jessica Pellegrino – General Assignment Reporter

Working while taking classes is not for the faint of heart. It requires time management, all-nighters and a capability to stay relaxed when you’re busy. But at what cost? Why must students trade their sanity for good grades and a balanced life?

Trust me when I say that balance is an art. I am a full time student, I work roughly thirty hours a week, and I like stay involved in campus organizations. Not to mention, I have to do homework and try my hardest to maintain a social life. It does not help that I am only paid minimum wage.

Being a college student is expensive, so it is not uncommon that students get a part time job. Between bills, gas, books, car payments, and other expenses, it can really add up.

There is an argument that because being a full time student is a job in itself, students should not have to work more than 20 hours a week. But at the current minimum wage, that is not realistic for most students.

In order to make more money, they need to work more hours. As a student, time is a valuable thing. So, a simple solution would to pay student more, so they did not have to so many hours.

Those precious hours could be used elsewhere. Think about it this way: if students made more, they would not have to work more than 20 hours.

If a student works 32 hours a week, with a slightly higher pay rate, they would only have to work 20 hours.

That is 12 extra hours the student would have every single week. The student could use these hours to be a better student.

Students could use the time working on homework, required reading, studying for exam, or the most coveted: sleeping.

But most importantly, the student schedule is extremely mentally taxing. Always going and going has a negative effect on students emotionally. Students, for the most part, are overworked, sleep deprived, and struggling for that perfect balance, all in the name of education. For the students who have to work part time or even full time, this is particularly true.

It is stressful enough worrying about student debt and getting good enough grades. Nobody should have to feel that overwhelmed. Increasing the minimum wage for students would alleviate so much pressure.

There are countless studies that prove students need more sleep. After class, work, and homework, students are lucky to pull four or five hours of sleep.

With more time, students could spend it on their health. The health habits for students are notoriously lackluster. With a little extra time, students could go to the gym or perhaps make themselves a healthy meal.

Extra time could also be used for self-care. Students could take a nice nap or read a book for enjoyment. Spending time on oneself is key in happiness, especially with a busy lifestyle.  

Increasing the minimum wage for students is the way to more successful and efficient students who can get more out of college because they can focus on themselves and therefore study more effectively.

Photo Credit: Maryland GovPics

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