Students Juggle Classes, Work

by Zora Fiset Morin

Students at Cape Cod Community College have a lot to juggle.

According to Patrick Stone, the Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing, there are a total of 2,375 students enrolled this semester. Almost half of the student population this semester attend college full time: 651 of them, while 1, 724 are part-time students. If a full time student has at least 12 credits per semester, that adds up to an average of more than six hours of class per week. 

Many students enrolled full time also work a part-time job.

One of these students is JJ. Bickford, a full-time first semester student majoring in art. After class, he works as a camp counselor and snowboarding instructor. He works an average of 20-25 hours a week.

 “I pretty much only have Fridays and Saturdays to socialize,” Bickford says. “I find it hard.” 

Jane Stanley is in a similar boat. She is on her third semester here at 4C’s as a Psychology major. Along with being enrolled full time with five classes a week, she works as a sales representative for Cut-Co, selling kitchenware. She works an average of 10 hours a week.

 “Sometimes some customers can’t meet on Saturdays, which is when I hold work meetings,” she explains. She then “ha[s] to fit them in during the week. It’s definitely challenging with schoolwork and homework.” These hectic schedules add a level to students’ academic lives, and make the success that they see at Cape Cod Community College all the more impressive. Bickford and Stanley are emblematic of the strong work ethic at Cape Cod Community College, both in and outside of the classroom.

Jane Stanley, a psychology major, and sales representative poses with J.J Bickford, an art major who balances a full-time academic career with teaching snowboarding and camp counseling. (Zora Fiset Morin)

Categories: Featured, Student Life