Too much pressure from working part-time, many students pay a high price

(Dan Tri) - Financial pressure forces many students to work part-time to make ends meet. However, this is a danger to health and learning quality if not chosen and arranged scientifically.

Poor health and mental fatigue

Most students choose common jobs such as waiters, parking attendants, cashiers, delivery workers, etc. because these are all part-time jobs with few commitments. However, over time, if they cannot balance work and study, students are susceptible to mental and health problems.

Students work at a convenience store (Photo: Thao Quan).

Diem Thuan, a third-year Journalism student in Ho Chi Minh City, is working as a cashier at a convenience store, signing up for at least 3 shifts a week, each shift lasting 3-4 hours on average.

At first, Thuan was stressed and tired.

“I often lack sleep, my legs ache from standing for 3-4 hours straight, I usually finish work late, and with a lot of homework I have to stay up very late,” Thuan shared.

Cases like Thuan’s are not uncommon. In fact, in some places, shifts last 5-7 hours, making it even more difficult for students to arrange their study and rest time.

Khanh Uyen, a student at the University of Economics and Law, Ho Chi Minh City National University, who used to work as a waitress at a coffee shop, said: “On average, my shift is about 6 hours. After the morning class, I have to eat quickly to get to the store on time. For 3 consecutive months, I discovered that my health was not good, I had mild gastritis due to stress and irregular eating.”

Uyen was forced to quit her job, but the consequence is that her stomach disease still follows her to this day.

In addition, the 24/7 coffee shop model creates overnight shifts, disrupting many people's biological clocks.

Nhat Trieu, a student majoring in Electronics and Telecommunications at a university in the South, shared: "I often have headaches. On days when I don't work the night shift, I can't sleep early because I'm used to the time."

But in return, night shifts would have higher wages than day shifts. So Trieu accepted the trade-off.

Direct impact on learning

Many students spend 20-30 hours a week working part-time. Study schedules, homework, and exam preparation are disrupted. Working night shifts or long shifts does not give students enough time to rest. Long-term sleep deprivation reduces memory, concentration, and academic performance.

Nhat Trieu shared: “After I go to work at night, I usually sleep in the next day. On mornings when I have classes, I often feel sleepy and have headaches, unable to concentrate on the lessons. After class, I have to ask my friends to explain again or research more on my own, which takes more time.”

It is undeniable that part-time jobs help students gain early exposure to reality, practice soft skills and time management, but they should choose the right job in their major to bring long-term value, instead of just bringing economic benefits.

“I know that if I continue like this, my mental and physical health will not be guaranteed. My academic results this semester are not as expected. In the near future, when I enter my major, I will stop working at the coffee shop, or find a related job to earn extra money and accumulate knowledge,” Trieu expressed.

Long-term consequences

Jobs that last long hours and require continuous work often put students at risk of diseases such as varicose veins, stomach pain, etc. This is not only an immediate effect but can easily become a chronic health problem.

Besides, many students focus too much on making money, considering studying as secondary. Over time, the focus on studying is limited, leading to weak foundation knowledge, difficulty in achieving good or excellent degrees, causing disadvantages in career competition.

Delivery is one of the jobs that students love (Illustration: DT).

In fact, working part-time is not bad. The important thing is that students know how to organize properly and choose the right job.

Before starting any job, you should consider the benefits and salary appropriate for your position, do not let immediate economic benefits affect you later.

Another point to note is that before signing the contract, students need to read the information carefully to ensure safety, a healthy working environment, and a satisfactory salary.

Lawyer Tran Minh Hung, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, noted: “Students working part-time under contracts of 1 month or more have the right to request the enterprise to pay social insurance and accident insurance. If working short-term (less than 1 month), the employer must at least buy accident insurance.”

Most importantly, the main goal of university is still to study and practice. Working part-time should only be a supplementary experience, not a burden that makes students trade off with declining health, loss of knowledge and development opportunities.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/qua-ap-luc-khi-di-lam-them-nhieu-sinh-vien-tra-gia-dat-20251004091143060.htm