<p>As a parent, I want my child to have a college education. I hope not to have to spend an exorbitant amount of money.
I want them to do as well as they can. So I told my kids that their job is to do well in school. If you are taking 15 credits, you are supposed to do 1-2 hours of work outside the classroom for every hour in the classroom, so that can be 45 hours/week which is a full time job. Your parents don’t have to pay that much extra to house/feed you, and you have tuition taken care of. Your parents will be happier that you do well than i f you get a job too.</p>
<p>What happened to the OP? I still want to know how he can be 18 years old…and also out of school for three years with no debt.</p>
<p>I was in much the same position, my parents were happy to give me an allowance, but eventually it just felt weird. I just liked feeling that even if my parents still covered major expenses, I could go out and be frivolous without feeling guilty. In my experience a 10 a week job actually resulted in better grades and having work experience no matter how small, is better than nothing. Which is all my long winded way of saying - yes, by all means look for a campus job even though I agree you are not a freeloader. Just don’t overextend yourself. I shelved library books and it turned out it led directly to an interim job at a library when there were no architecture jobs to be had anywhere.</p>
<p>If OP is not kidding they need some counselling.</p>
<p>I suggest you read the Art of Asking, recently out by Amanda Palmer.
It references the role of society and the support of artists, but I think it makes some good points that can be applied to your situation.
Your parents likely feel guilty that you are not having the living on campus experience, and grateful that instead they are getting to spend more time with you.
While I agree that for many students a job not only gives them structure and spending money while they are in school, logistics can be challenging if a commuter student.
Your primary job is to be a student, but if you can’t find a job on campus, perhaps you could earn spending money by taking n additional chores at home or around your neighborhood.</p>
<p>I think you should definitely go and try to get some kind of work experience. NOT because you are a freeloader or anything but just to have something for your resume if you don’t already have anything. (And even if you do, finding something can’t hurt). You’re not doing anything wrong the way you are (except I would try to lose the guilt; it’s pretty clear that your parents are happy with the way you are now and you sound like a great person. There are some real sickos out there who are way more proud of themselves than they should be, so you should try to buck up a bit and realize that in the grand scheme of things you’re a pretty good person.)</p>
<p>I completely understand how you’re feeling, I’m in a nearly identical situation (right down to the dad coming from Africa and wanting to give his kids what he didn’t have, reading your post was almost surreal). </p>
<p>Have you considered getting a job at the campus libraries? That’s what I’m looking into now, it doesn’t pay that much but it’s good experience, doesn’t conflict with your classes, and you still get a decent income and can afford things for yourself.</p>