As any zoologist will affirm, winter is all about hibernation. It is a time to rest and recharge after the intensity of the fall semester, as well as to spend quality time with our families. As restful as it is meant to be, however, many University students sacrificed much of their allotted time off as members of the workforce instead.
Second-year College student Tuonan Li began working for the University Bookstore immediately after taking his fall semester final exams. Li said the bookstore was willing to accommodate his schedule, allowing him to work seven hours a day and five days a week for one month.
His responsibilities at the bookstore allowed him to learn a great deal in a short period of time, Li said, including how to handle customers and logistical assignments. He noted that the money was not his main motivator for accepting the position.
"My parents encouraged me to work during the winter because it was a good opportunity to gain some work experience," he said.
His typical day could become fairly busy, as he filled it with answering customer inquiries, managing textbook inventory, handling deliveries and providing feedback on the store's layout. Despite the endless projects and tasks - which could sometimes become monotonous - Li said he enjoyed the atmosphere of the workplace.
"Both the management and the colleagues are very nice," he said. "Work can get busy sometimes but not usually overwhelming."
Like Li, third-year College student Anna Kushner handled a busy job on Grounds during Winter Break, working for the University Transit Service as a bus driver trainer. Her work days were long, sometimes reaching 11 hours, but it was often time well-spent.
"The more hours you spend on a bus, the more insane stories you have to tell and the more people you get to know," she said.
Along with the stories she gathers, Kushner said she enjoys the driver-passenger interaction.
"I love the interesting and chatty people who ride the bus," she said. "In the winter, passengers can be few and far between, which can really make the day drag."
Kushner has been driving for UTS since last January and also drives during the regular academic session. Only taking a few days off for Christmas, Kushner trained drivers from Jan. 3-14. It was an enjoyable time for Kushner as she "drives for the excitement and stories" and is never disappointed by her paycheck.
Other industrious students left Grounds during the break, finding work outside of the University. Fourth-year College student Nikki De Vignes spent much of her vacation working at the Aspen Institute's Energy and Environment Program in Washington, D.C. A continuation of Vignes' summer internship, the position resembled a typical job with eight- and sometimes 10-hour days.
"These hours are perfect because I feel as though it is preparing me for life after college in that I work a typical 9-to-5 job and overtime if needed," De Vignes said.
The job also offered her critical and valuable skills such as the ability to operate various databases, knowledge of proper and general office protocol and the ability to network well with others. The job also included the opportunity to travel, and Vignes greatly enjoyed the company trips to Aspen, Colo.
Like De Vignes, second-year College student Sami Sfeir took a job closer to home. Shortly after the end of his final exams, Sfeir returned to the Winchester Medical Center, a local hospital in his hometown that he had worked at since 2008, with the institution's food service.
Sfeir's work at the hospital consisted of 11-hour shifts of numerous, tedious tasks including helping to cook meals, dish washing and delivering trays to patients.
"I was essentially always on my feet doing something," he said. "It was a cardio workout, with far too many trips from the dungeon of a kitchen to the floors that house patients."
Still, Sfeir added that his amicable coworkers and patients made for a pleasant working atmosphere overall.
"Decisive patients who don't force me to spend seven minutes going over what they want for dinner are always appreciated," Sfeir added.
And at the end of the day, their paychecks certainly help student-employees feel a sense of appreciation. How does Sfeir justify working during his winter vacation? "Tickets to Bonnaroo, a fantastic music festival that I went to last year, and enough money for food"
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