The other day I tried to explain to my roommate that it was a privilege to not have to work while you are in college so you can afford the next semester and she took offense to my statement because, when you point out people’s privileges that’s what happens. They start talking about all the things they have done throughout their life and all the other disadvantages they face that have nothing to do with the topic at hand, so they seem less privileged. But we forget just because you are not privileged in one area does not mean that in another area you aren’t. But she neglected to understand my point of view.

 Preparing myself the night before to wake up at 6am, and going to sleep early while she is still out with friends until midnight hours. Don’t get me started with the after-work hustle, friends getting upset with you because “you don’t ever hang out with us” are the same friends who only have school to worry about because the only time you have when you aren’t in class or doing the homework you are at work. The constant exhaustion and feeling of emptiness when you get off and try to wind down, just to have to prepare for your next days at work. The actual work is less exhausting that the “consequences” of working. The worry about if you got enough hours to pay off the school before the semester ends, but also have to save up for the following semester. The worry about if you are going to be dropped by your friend group because you are constantly socially unavailable and when you are you have no energy because you just got off of work. The worry about if you are going to be written up because you were having a bad day so you were emotionless during your shift heavily relies on customer service.

Working while you are in school is so mentally and physically draining to the point where you miss classes sometimes because you can’t get out of bed, which later affects your attendance score and you’ve missed a lesson. On top of that, it is very easy to fall behind on schoolwork. You pick a shift over an assignment because the 1 hour you have between the end of your shift and when the assignment is due “is enough time.” Constantly turning in sloppy work or half-finished work or even not being able to do the work at all. Having to email professors that you might be late to their class or not show up because your shift ends 15 minutes before class starts because you worked in between class periods since every cent on your paycheck counts.

So, when my roommate told me that not having to work during school wasn’t a privilege it kind of hurt because she sees firsthand how my work schedule is constantly fighting with my school schedule. How I don’t get out of bed on Sundays until well into the afternoon because I don’t have work that day but go to bed early because I have work the next. She sees the mental and physical exhaustion but still asked if I want to go out when my answer is always no, but then she complains that I’m never around. But she is the same person who expects me to buy the food, soap, trash bags, dish detergent, regular detergent, cleaning supplies, etc. because she doesn’t have a job not only that, but she offers up the stuff I buy to others in our hall i.e., cooking oil, pans, eggs, detergent, feminine products, etc. when she didn’t pay for it. I don’t mind sharing but she shares like it’s hers to give away. I also do most of the cleaning when I get off. I feel like someone’s wife and going “home” is when my second shift begins.