Nico Klementzos, Campus Carrier photographer

When I first arrived at Berry, I was not sure what career I wanted to pursue, but I was drawn to the “eight semesters of paid professional experience” that the LifeWorks program promised. To me it sounded like the opportunity of a lifetime to let me explore, grow and find my passions. And in many ways, it has.

My first position was as a lab assistant for the Office of Information Technology, which was a glorified title for the boy who loaded the printers across campus with paper when they were low. While it wasn’t anything glamorous, it gave me some structure and it paid the grocery bills. 

My second year at Berry, I became a resident assistant, working a whole new level of leadership and responsibility across campus. Now as a senior, I’m the director of sports photography in the Sports Information department, where I lead coverage for our 22 varsity sports. I finally found my calling where I’ve poured everything I have into my work. I’ve built a portfolio, reputation and a level of work that I can come to be depended on.

The thing is, I feel stuck. Before the beginning of this school year, LifeWorks restructured its program, transitioning from five levels to four job classifications: entry, intermediate, advanced, and pre-professional. To many, that sounded like progress. Sure, who doesn’t want a $2 raise? But to me it just felt like a rebrand of the same system.

As someone who falls into the pre-professional level, I’m expected to produce the same professional-grade work you’d find in the real world. I do just that, because I’m good at it, and because I love it. However, I’m constantly butting heads with a 20 hour per week limit imposed by “budget constraints”.

While it’s easy to say that a student work position should mean more than just earning a paycheck, the truth is I’m working hard, learning and building my portfolio so that I land on my feet when I graduate and not scrambling for the first job that offers a barely livable wage.

In my opinion, if you’re going to call a level of work “pre-professional,” then you must treat it that way. No internship in my chosen field would ever cap you at 20 hours. No major media organization covering anything from sports to daily news works on system of “part-time work.” In the real world you’re expected to hustle, and that’s what I’m good at.

I was recently nominated for the Chief Moore Award, which recognizes exceptional student workers. At the LifeWorks banquet, they shared data: total hours worked, number of students employed and more. I did some quick math, and the average student works about 7 hours a week. So, if the majority are well under that threshold, then why is there no flexibility for those of us who are ready and eager to do more?

I understand there are benefits thresholds, financial aid complications and probably a whole bunch of rules I’ll never get to see. But from my perspective, all I know is that I love the work. I chase every opportunity I can, and I hate that I’ve had to turn down jobs, not because I’m overbooked, but because I’m over the hour limit.

I don’t want the only takeaway from this to be that I hate the LifeWorks program. I’m truly grateful for the position I’m in and for all the connections I’ve gained from my work. I have the most amazing mentors as my supervisors, I’ve honed my skills with experiences I may have not found elsewhere, and I’m supported by a student body that pours into me and supports my work. However, I wish the system didn’t make me feel like I must feel bad about being ambitious and wanting to take on every opportunity presented.