Am I being a freeloader? My family thinks so.

Hi! I just completed my freshman year in college and live at home. I took 16 hours of classes both semesters and made nothing but A’s. After I graduate I want to go to occupational therapy school. Also, my college is completely paid for and they send me the scholarship money left over that I use to help my mom pay bills with and buy groceries. However, I also never had a job, beside working on the side for a few days a month. Now that I’m off for summer, some of my relatives are yelling at me to get a job. I’m looking for jobs, but I want it to be able to use it on my OT school application. There are not any related jobs in my area, but I have found some volunteer opportunities that will help immensely. My sister yelled at me and said I was being selfish for trying to take advantage of my lucky position living at home and trying to benefit my future goals, instead of just getting any job to earn money. What do you guys think?

I think the only people’s opinions that matter are yours and your mother’s. If she is OK with your prioritizing the benefits of volunteer work over contributing somewhat more to the household budget, then it’s fine. It does seem like you could do both if you can work 10-15 hours a week to have money for your own expenses and a little more, and volunteer the rest of the time.

I think you should get a part time job. ANY employment is helpful when you start looking for a “real job” later. Plus it sounds like your mom could use some help with expenses.

Getting a job can help you save money.

I think you are doing an excellent work in College congratulations.
“You won your “lucky position” working hard in High School and College” You have a Scholarship, and your work right now is study hard to keep it. I think your sister is the selfish.
If you really need to work because your family have low income, work few hours, but take the volunteer opportunities.
You can apply for work study and live in campus or near campus?

your sis is obviously jealous

Of course you are being a freeloader, strictly defined. You are not self-sufficient and are dependent on others.
So is virtually every other college student your age.

You should spend your summers putting yourself in better position to be self-sufficient when you graduate. if you have no OT related jobs in your area, then move to a more advantageous area (probably not possible) or get a job doing something else. Doing something looks better (and is better) than doing nothing. You can still volunteer.

Ignore your disagreeable family but don’t discount them entirely.

You’re paying for your college through good grades and contributing to the household with your scholarship leftover. You could be living elsewhere and using your scholarship money to pay for your own rent and food. You need to prepare for OT. However, a paying job isn’t unreasonable. So, can you volunteer for 20hours a week and work for 15 hours a week?

Sometimes this expectation of contributing to the family can be cultural. If your family needs your help, I’m inclined to agree with the advice mentioned earlier and that you get a job even if it is not in OT. My family believes going to school and getting good grades are your job. Each family is different, do what feels right for yours.

Get a part-time job - employment history is always good, even if not directly related to your field (showing up on time, and good job habits demonstrated while working do in fact relate to all fields). If there are plenty of relevant volunteer opportunities, do that part-time as well. Unless those opportunities are providing skills and experience you wouldn’t otherwise get, they are only going to be marginally helpful. Next summer, arrange an internship - paid or unpaid, you sister doesn’t need to know. In the future, don’t discuss finances with your sister, and ask your mother to do the same. It sounds like there’s a bit of resentment going on. Perhaps instead she would prefer you keep your scholarship money during the school year, and then pay a share of the rent when you’re home. This is my advice as a mom.

Now, to put my professional hat on - I’m a tax preparer. Perhaps you are not aware that any scholarship money above the cost of tuition and fees (so anything paying for room and board, plus whatever’s left over that you’re sending to your mother) is taxable income. You will need to report it on your 2018 taxes (and should have on your 2017 taxes for anything paid in the Fall). Here’s the issue - the changes to the tax code mean you’re going to owe taxes next spring, more than you’re expecting. You won’t get that “$12,000 standard deduction” that you keep hearing everybody talk about. Your standard deduction will be your earnings, plus $350. And you won’t pay your mother’s tax rate, instead you now use the chart for estates and trusts. I would call a local tax expert, and ask about your scholarships and “kiddie tax.” Depending on the value of your room and board, you could end up owing around $3,000. So not only do I think you probably need to get a job, but you also can’t afford to give that money to your mother. As things stand right now, who will end up paying the IRS for you?

^Keep in mind that for OT the hours volunteering or working in health care are MANDATORY. The student needs to volunteer 20 hours a week over the summer freshman year (increasing incrementally year after year) to make the required hours. However that leaves enough hours in the week to also have a part-time job. The one impossible option is to have zero OT-related hours, as this would sink her/his career aspirations. The family has to think long term - s/he needs to help a little with the short time, but the most help will come when OP is settled with a good job, and that won’t happen if s/he doesn’t invest time in fulfilling the hours needed. She can’t be penny wise, pound foolish.

I agree with @MYOS1634 (as usual)…do both. Volunteer and work.

I agree with @MYOS1634 as well. You absolutely need to get some OT-related experience (or even any experience that is in clinical health care or medical research) on your resume so you can put it on your application for OT school. That shows continued interest. It won’t matter if it is paid or volunteer. The allied health professions schools (PT, OT, etc.) are getting more and more competitive every year. Don’t listen to relatives who don’t know anything about what it takes to get into OT school.

Your relatives are being nosy, and your sister is being spiteful out of envy. Don’t listen to either of them. You are already doing great jobs by getting full ride AND using excess money to help your mom pay bills. Do you know how many college kids yell at their parents to get them new laptops and iphones? You are being a great son.

But, if you want to get a job to save money not because of your sister/relatives pressures, go ahead.

Did they make a change to the tax code that scholarships are no longer considered earned income for the purpose of calculating the standard deduction?

Also read about crab in a bucket syndrome. Realize that having not gone to college, they may not understand what is really needed.

Crabs in a bucket (also barrel, basket or pot), is a way of thinking best described by the phrase “if I can’t have it, neither can you”.[1] The metaphor refers to a bucket of live crabs, some of which could easily escape,[2] but other crabs pull them back down to prevent any from getting out, ensuring the group’s collective demise.

The analogy in human behavior is claimed to be that members of a group will attempt to reduce the self-confidence of any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy, spite, conspiracy, or competitive feelings, to halt their progress. (wikipedia)

I don’t agree that any part-time employment is helpful in your job history even if it’s unrelated. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t get a part-time job - I think that’s dependent upon how much money you need and what your time looks like. But if we’re talking about a hypothetical student who doesn’t need money, working part-time at a fast food or retail job isn’t necessarily helpful for getting other jobs - particularly if that same hypothetical student could be spending the time doing something else that IS helpful for their career goals (like volunteering, or studying more to get an A, or taking another class.)

In this case, as was pointed out, you really need volunteering hours working alongside an occupational therapist. You can definitely do that alongside a part-time job, but in an ideal world, the OT hours would be prioritized.

As for the situation - are you living with your mother in your mother’s house and she’s the one paying the bills? If yes, and these other relatives are not supporting you, simply ignore them. Your sister’s opinion is not needed here, and you can tell her to mind her own business the next time she talks to you about it.

I’ve found that a lot of time relatives don’t understand the pressures of college and preparing for a career, and so they will ask or tell you to do things that don’t make much sense.