Chelsea Daystar has three siblings. Long before she started college, the freshman in biological engineering said she knew she would be expected to pay her way through school.

At first, she said she resented the financial responsibility.

“It’s kind of annoying to hear people say, ‘My parents give me $150 a week,'” Daystar said. “I’d love $150 a week for fun stuff.”

But while she said it would be easier to have her parents writing checks for her education, Daystar said she finds satisfaction in her ability to pay for her education.

Seemingly a jack-of-all-trades, Daystar has work experience in a variety of fields.

“My dad’s a landscaper, and I worked mostly with him during the summer,” she said.

She said her grass-cutting jobs earned her an average of $150 per week, which adds up. In addition, Daystar worked at a music store and is searching for research opportunities.

“I have to do work-study,” she said. “I’m trying to get this research job in my department.”

And Daystar isn’t the only student with multiple work commitments.

“I have two [jobs],” said Meg Sharma, a senior in chemistry and biology. “One is on campus, and one [is] at a pharmacy.”

According to Sharma, her jobs help enhance her resume.

“The lab job is required experience,” she said. “It makes [my] applications look good. Good grades [aren’t] enough.”

For Sharma, her income goes toward the cost of living during the school year.

“[I pay for] my rent, phone bill, light bill and miscellaneous items,” she said.

Angera Ma, a senior in biomedical engineering, found a job that provided her with these things.

“Being an RA was really beneficial because they paid for my housing and meals,” Ma said.

This former Resident Advisor now works as a Community Assistant for University Housing. Ma said she is adjusting to the loss of the meal plan and housing arrangement from her job switch.

“It’s not too bad,” she said. “I had to apply for grants and loans, and that’s helping me out,” she said.

And although loans have to be repaid, Ma said she received short-term relief to help subsidize her expenses. Her job as a Community Assistant provides Ma, a dental school-hopeful, with spending money each month.

“Working at the desk now mainly just helps me with groceries and some pocket money,” she said.

As a student, time spent at work may compete with study time.

Daystar said she commits herself to her studies in the hopes of earning scholarship money and pursuing career goals.

Features Editor Maggie Luckadoo contributed to this story.