Several De Anza students are becoming overworked by a heavy school load and an even heavier work-load in order to pay for expenses.  

            Alex Chang, 21, a business major, works at a shoe store and a restaurant to help pay for his heavy school expenses.

            “I don’t get a lot of financial aid, so I need to work two jobs in order to help pay for all of my school expenses,” he said.

            Christy Rodriguez, 20, a psychology major, said she also works two jobs to help pay for her school expenses.

            “It is all about time management,” she said. “I have to make a lot of sacrifices with my social life and even sleep to make sure my school is paid for.”

            According to American Association of Community Colleges in a 2014 poll, the percentage students working is about 62 percent.

            Jeremy Stewart, 19, liberal arts major, only gets about five hours of sleep a night because of his late hours at work and his homework load.

            “I work in a restaurant so sometimes I’m not off until after 11 p.m.,” Stewart said. “I don’t get any financial aid so it’s up to me to pay for school.”

            Alexandra Moore, 20, a communications major, is in the same boat as Stewart. “I moved out of my parents house but my financial aid report includes my parents’ income,” she said. “So even though I’m not living with them, I’m not getting money because they make too much.”

            According to American Association of Community Colleges, community colleges cost around $3,000 dollars a year per student and it doesn’t include supplies or books.

            Amy Wright, 22, a communications major, receives financial aid but still relies on the pay from her jobs in order to remain stable.

            “I’m lucky to receive financial aid, but working is still necessary so I don’t drown in bills because financial aid doesn’t cover everything,” she said.

            Ryan Sanchez, 18, a kinesiology major, works part time at a local retail store in order to pay for bills and recreational activities.

            “For me, it is important to save time for fun activities as well as responsibilities because it’s important to relax by doing the things you love and not just doing the things you’re supposed to do,” he said.

            Although worrying about finances in college can be challenging, some De Anza students have proven that it isn’t impossible to overcome.  

            “It is never easy to multitask when school is so challenging,” Chang said. “Yet having this ability will help us when we get older and our responsibilities become greater.” Chang also said that knowing the value of hard work at a young age is important for when college students enter into their career paths.