Students find off-campus work worth their while

Author: Tamara Hilmes

Let's face it, college students are usually strapped for cash. For many Middlebury students, however, seeking work is more than just a way to earn some beer money. Rather, they must fulfill the work-study portion of grants they receive from the College. When applying for jobs, students have two options: they can either work on-campus or off-campus.

According to Student Employment Coordinator Deanna Gilbert, while most students tend to opt for on-campus employment, a number of students do choose to work at local businesses around the town of Middlebury to satisfy their financial aid requirements.

"We have more students working on campus. There are more jobs, more variety, no transportation needed and frequently they get to work with their friends," said Gilbert. "Students like off-campus work-study jobs because they are service-oriented and offer opportunities to students to work for agencies that help the elderly and children. Middlebury students can also volunteer at some of these agencies and can visit the Alliance for Civic Engagement in the McCullough Student Center or online if interested," she continued.

Although College students are able to apply for a range of jobs on campus such as working as a computer consultant for the Helpdesk, a driver for Midd Rides or even a baker's helper in one of the dining halls, many students still itch to get off campus for a couple of hours a day.

"I think it is more enriching to work with members of the Middlebury community rather than just staying on campus," explained first-year student Anna Johnston, a classroom assistant at the College Street Children's Center. "Working at the daycare is just a more interesting way to spend my time than sitting in the dining hall."

First-year student Ana Garces-Wood, who also works at a community daycare, enjoys the opportunity to get off campus. She sees her job at the Mary Johnson Children's Center as an opportunity to "escape the Middlebury bubble." She explained that "going to the children's center is a nice breather in the middle of my week where I can just go and escape the stress of college and play with kids. Also, I get to act as a role model for the kids which is more rewarding than a lot of other jobs on campus."

Off-campus jobs not only give students the opportunity to venture off campus for a change and become more involved with the town, but they also allow students to do what they love while simultaneously paying for their education.

"Even though I don't think that childcare is a career choice for me in the future, working at the College Street Children's Center does allow me to fulfill my passion for working with kids," said Adrienne Ferris '10.

Instead of scanning barcodes at the library circulation desk or clicking a button each time a student walks into Atwater, students who opt for off-campus employment are able to follow their interests.

"My typical day at work mostly involves just playing with the kids," said Ferris. "Usually when I get here in the afternoon the kids are napping, so we just sit and watch over them and make sure that they don't wake up so that they get their full nap. Once they wake up, we play with them out on the porch and just hang out until 3, when we have a snack. Then we just play games. We also help the teachers because they can't be everywhere at once. We clean, do laundry and even dishes. We just do whatever we can to help out."

Besides working at daycares, students who qualify for off-campus work study are also eligible to apply for jobs at local museums as collection or education assistants, work as land conservation intern for the Middlebury Area Land Trust or even as a gallery assistant at the Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center. Although a student may have to make a small trek into town, off-campus employment offers a wide range of opportunities for those who wish to get more involved in the community.