The Hustle Between Lectures

For many students, tertiary education is already a full-time commitment. For Natalia, a third year Certificate in Solar Installation and Maintenance student at River Higher Institution of Technology (RHIT), it is only half the story. Between lectures and practical's, she is also showing up for work not by choice alone, but out of necessity.

Survival First: Natalia’s decision to work while studying was not born out of ambition alone it was born out of reality. Transport, food, and daily personal expenses do not wait for a pay check or a bursary. “I didn’t want to depend too much on others,” she reflects. But beyond the financial push, there was also she reflects. But beyond the financial push, there was also a personal pull a desire to stand on her own feet and gain real-life experience while she still had the safety net of being a student.

The Weight of Two Worlds: Balancing work and a full academic programme is not something that looks glamorous from the inside. There are days when exhaustion settles in so deeply that concentrating in class feels impossible. Free time has become a luxury, and her social life has quietly taken a back seat.

“Mentally, it can be stressful trying to manage everything at once,” she admits. Yet in the same breath, Natalia acknowledges that the pressure has shaped her making her more responsible, more disciplined, and sharper when it comes to managing her time.

Education Comes First: There have been moments where work and school have clashed head-on, forcing Natalia to make a hard call. Every time, she chooses school. “My education is important for my future,” she says, without hesitation. Rather than simply not showing up for work, she has learned the value of communication speaking to her employer early, explaining her situation honestly, and fi nding a middle ground that works for both sides. It is a quiet maturity that many people twice her age are still learning.