Financing a college education is not an easy assignment, especially in times when the economy is struggling.
For a large number of college students, working on campus is an ideal solution to earn extra money.
Freshman Cody Derby works helping to organize activities on campus for student competitions.
This year Derby’s group has done flag football, indoor and outdoor volleyball and intramural basketball.
“It is a way for athletes and non-athletes to compete in a…fun setting,” Derby said. “The hardest part about my job is to try to get people to get involved in intramural sports on campus.”
Derby said he likes his job on campus, because apart from making money, he doesn’t have to drive anywhere, his schedule is open to when he is available and he doesn’t have anybody constantly looking over his shoulder and giving him strict orders.
“It is also perfect for me because I’m involved with sports at the same time I work,” he said.
Freshman Aaron Marshall worked in the cafeteria during his first semester in Ottawa University. He said the main reason he decided to work on campus was because it fitted his schedule.
“It worked better to work on campus than off campus,” Marshall said.
Marshall also got to pick when he was going to work.
“I just had a general outline of when I had to go work,” he said. “I didn’t have to drive to the jobsite, so it was pretty cool.”
Sophomore Cody Matteri said he enjoys his job on campus.
As a resident assistant in Bennett Hall, he said he likes to get to know a lot of people, hang out with them and build relationships with people.
“My biggest difficulty is to deal with different situations and still respect and communicate with people when they break a rule,” Matteri said. “I have to remember to treat them how they deserve, as a person, and not by the mistake they made”.
Previous to this, Matteri worked with kids and disabled people at COF Training Services.
“It was different. We had to meet with them wherever they were and bring something positive to their lives,” he said. “Here you interact with people of the same or a pretty close age.”
“You … have to be a mentor for freshmen who are moving in for the first time and getting a feeling of what’s expected from them”, Matteri said. “You also have to be there for older if something happens. This position requires leadership skills”.
Working with those skills is something Matteri believes has set him up for future jobs. “I think the skills that … required working here on campus are going to carry over to the rest of my life.”