Angle

Issue date: 9/20/04 Section: On Campus

Elizabeth Brown [Click to enlarge]

Melanie Fitzgerald [Click to enlarge]

Susie Peterson [Click to enlarge]

Mrs. Linda Wiggins, Director of Guidance/Career Services [Click to enlarge]

Stacey Gamble [Click to enlarge]

You receive a typical phone call from home one afternoon. Among the chatting of how hard this college semester is going be, and how your roommates are nothing like the ones you had in the past, Mom says, "In order to fully experience the whole college way of life, your father and I have decided that we are no longer going to support your financial expenses while you are at CCC."

This means that your cell phone, car, gas bill, and those occasional double dates with others who are under 20 years of age are now your own responsibilities. This may come as quite a shock to you--especially if you are a freshman that has to experience the whole college life for the first time! You ask yourself, "What do I do?" The answer is to get an off-campus job.

An off-campus job is beneficial in many ways. "Having an off-campus job allows for students to earn money to help pay for college, as well as to help with daily expenses," says Elizabeth Brown, who is still in search of a job. She also mentioned that having an off-campus job allows for more available hours and higher pay, which is what she needs to stay in school.

Another student, Melanie Fitzgerald, enjoys working off-campus at Lifestyle Family Fitness because she is a sports management major, and working in a gym allows her to be in an atmosphere where she can get sports-related experience that will build her resume and hopefully get her a lead in a future career. Melanie also states, "Working off-campus gives me a chance to get away from school and meet people who live in the area." Like Elizabeth, Melanie also needs an off-campus job to help with her financial needs.

Mrs. Wiggins, who is a part of Career Services, says, "Having an off-campus job gives students a good way to be light and salt to the world. Being conscious, honest, and dependable helps others see Christ in us."

By having an off-campus job, you are forced to work with others who are not Christians. Therefore, an off-campus job can be a ministry opportunity with those in the community. Elizabeth Brown, Melanie Fitzgerald, and many others use their jobs as a way to witness and share Christ.

Most students who attend Clearwater Christian College already have off-campus jobs. Students like Susie Peterson spent the first several days in Clearwater dropping off applications at various places around the area in hopes that one will hire. After waiting in anticipation, she heard back from Ruby Tuesday's.

Others, like Stacey Gamble, log on to the Career Services site on the Clearwater Christian College home page. This is lead by Mrs. Wiggins and is a part of the school's guidance center. This is a fairly new site on the Clearwater home page, but the service has been identifiable since 1993 when Mrs. Wiggins came to CCC. This site makes it faster and easier for students to search their options in finding off-campus jobs.

Off-campus jobs are not recommended to everyone, says Mrs. Wiggins. "A disadvantage of having an off-campus job is transportation." If transportation isn't a problem, and you are looking for a way to make extra cash, build a good resume, learn real-life responsibilities, and become salt and light in the world around you, think about having an off-campus job.

Off campus jobs are readily available. It takes only a little time and creativity to find one.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools