- How does financial hardship affects students....
I think I have some things to say and my experience to share. Because finance and academics can not in any way be separated. So, after a long illness that forced me to let go of school, I decided to go back, since I feel continuing my education is the best thing for me, I couldn't work or do stressful stuffs, and eve though school itself is stressful I knew I would find my way around. At this time when I returned to school, my parents and siblings were still struggling to recover from the debts and financial issues my illness brought their way..and in all honesty it was weighing down on me too, while I was concerned about the various money I was to pay in school, their own focus was to be paying back debts and make sure I was buying my pills.
And like I said earlier, it weighed me down big time, I almost regretted coming back to school. Because now, my health should be my priority and not my education, na person wey dey alive dey go school...and that was how I began to miss classes, test and all, I began to avoid people too and my grades dropped, because I can't just stop thinking and that was getting too much as well.
What I'm saying in essence is that, if there's a comma with finance and you're in school, it will definitely affect your performance and the ay you relate with others. Finance can change the whole school experience...that is how powerful it is.
- Can students still thrive despite pressing financial struggles?
Huhm, this is huge but I will like to say, yes, they can, even though it's not easy, it still sums up back to such students.
After a while in school when I saw how pressing things were, and it's obvious I can't keep depending on my parents and siblings who have their lives too, I went my way to learn customization work, it is less stressful and my boss who was a student as well is a very understanding person. He even allowed me to tell people that I now make frames, magic mugs, throw pillows and the likes then even though I was still learning and very new to it... Best part is, he will allow me take the money. And that was how I began to do that together with my academics, he made sure he helped me out a lot and guide me till I could do things myself. And in a student area, the work was booming to some extent, that it began to affect my academics, that was how my boss called me back to attention.
And this was why I said yes, it is possible. This boss of mine who was also a student is a very talented person, he does electrical works, he paints, he does furniture, he repairs and do swapping phones business together with that customization work, still he never allowed it to mess with his reading/class time. He told me all these side gigs are good and can help me, but it needs to be controlled, tha the works shouldn't be controlling me. And that day,he said something... "You're not doing one quarter of what I do, so learn to control it, else you will chase money and not only lose your studies, but you will lose yourself/focus." And I held that, because he really does not joke with his academics despite that he does all those things and even owns a shop, he opens and closes when he likes. To crown it all, he graduated with a distinction.... So you see
In conclusion, balance is key. Don't ignore money issues, at the same time don't abandon your academics. With support, skills and a high level of discipline it is very very possible to make ends meet and still succeed academically...
Take mic... 🎤
Thanks for having me
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RE: Sam’s Hangout #110 - “HARDSHIP IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS”