The Juggling Act

So you’ve found a job, fantastic! But how do you juggle work with your studies and having a social life? We spoke to students who explain that it is possible to have it all.

Christine is a second year Law student at the uni and juggles four children with her studies and running her home and will writing business.

“No, I’m not the teacher! I’m a student, just like you.

I don’t know how many times I have given that answer since beginning my Law and Business degree in 2013. When people discover that, apart from being a full-time student, I also have a husband and 4 children aged 8 to 26, run multiple businesses, they’re extremely surprised.

I can juggle work and home life because I get myself organised and I’m disciplined to make the most out of each second in the day.

I’m also passionate about what I do. I was denied my dream of studying law as an 18 year old. My studies represent the ambitions of a young girl and her family that were taken away from her, now I have a second chance!

To seize this opportunity that I never expected possible I set my alarm clock for 4:00am every week-day morning after a good 7 hours of sleep. With everyone still in bed that is when I am most productive in keeping up with my course work and assignments. Mother and wife duties take over from 8:00am as I help my family to get ready for the new day.

I love this routine; I’m living my passion and fulfilling my dreams. The university is very supportive of my external obligations and I can take days off if I need to. You may even catch me in the breaks following up on business calls or emails that have come through during class.

I don’t have special talents; I am just a normal person from a normal working background but I do go to every lecture, I ask questions and I’m organised.”

 

Gennaro is a PhD student from the School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences. He started his time here five years ago as an undergrad before moving on to researching nanotechnology.

“University has provided me with the perfect opportunity to further my understanding and skills in something I’m passionate about whilst I work towards the next step in my career as a scientist.

Aside from my studies I’ve been an active student, joining several societies and working for the university in the labs and as a Social Media Ambassador for the Moulsecoomb campus.

It is not always easy being a student, trying to balance everything from finance, studies, work, hobbies, and of course family and having fun. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying just how difficult it can be to choose between writing that report due in for Friday or following your friends out the door and into town for the evening!

My tip for managing your work load is to prioritise; if your night out can wait until next week, work that extra bit harder this week and you’ll enjoy it even more knowing that you worked for it. I got through all the hard work and things that arise whilst you’re living independently with help from my friends; when we graduated and realised what we had achieved, it really was worth it in the end.”