While most people are just starting their day, University of Memphis college student Tim Givens is just wrapping his up.
The 20-year-old starts his workday at 10 p.m., loading and unloading planes for FedEx. He works until 4 a.m., does some studying and then goes to his morning classes.
He is a member of the 71 percent of college students who work a part-time or full-time job while being a full-time student, according to a U.S. Census report done in 2011.
Givens works an average of 30 hours a week, and his heavy workload is not out of the ordinary. More than half of the students with part-time jobs said they worked more than 20 hours a week. One out of five working students clocked in at more than 35 hours a week.
A higher percentage of those full-time students were females, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
The benefits and drawbacks of working while in school are mixed. Some students believe working a job can help their studies, but others, like Givens, said working means lower grades.
"It is tough working during the school year and it does affect my grades," he said.
Though this may be the case, Givens said having a job during college is a necessity and prepares him for the real world ahead.
"If I didn't work, I couldn't pay for gas, insurance or car note," he said.
U of M counselor Pamela Cogdal has aided students on time management for 24 years and has a son who is a college freshman.
She knows firsthand of the difficulties college students face while trying to work a part-or full-time job.
"Some students must work to be able to afford college," she said. "I encourage students to make sure that they are using good self-care techniques if they are going to need to work and attend classes."
Cogdal recommends working students find ways to relieve stress, such as finding support from friends, tutors or campus counselors.
According to Cogdal, working on campus can ease some of that stress.
"Most universities have job opportunities on campus for students who want to work so their schedule isn't as crazy," Cogdal said.
One option the U of M has is the Federal Work Study program. The program offers jobs that students can apply for on campus.
Eboni Norman, a sophomore enrolled in the program, praises the program's flexible work hours.
"I know the hours would be way more demanding if I had a job off campus," she said.
Norman said her job has helped her become independent and hasn't lowered her grades.
"I actually think my job has helped me in school, because I have a routine I follow and I make plenty of time to study," she said.
A recent study done by Boston University suggests if they do not exceed 20 hours a week, working may help a student's grade point average. The study showed an average GPA of 3.14 for those who worked 20 hours or less, versus an average GPA of 3.04 of those who didn't work at all.
Cogal said she agrees with that statistic.
"The more responsibilities we have, the more we feel the need to organize our lives and the less stress we will feel," she said.
