Fake it Till you (Just) Break: Survival Tips for the Working Class Student
I was sitting in the front row of my high school gym. We were lined up by our class ranking and as one of the top ten students, I was eagerly in the front. The speaker was preparing to reveal scholarships to each student, telling us to reflect on all the hard work we put in to graduate and prepare for the next steps of our lives. I had received academic scholarships from my future university, and was hoping to receive some from my hometown organization. I applied for every scholarship a working class student could knowing financial aid options were limited.
I knew I needed some funds if I was going to make my passions come to life at a private out-of-state university. I thought back to my time in high school. I was in every club imaginable. I worked hard to graduate with academic distinction. I was a state medalist in cross country and track, a state champion in speech and debate. Drum major for the band and even held my own advocacy events for National Honor Society. Overall, I was feeling good about what I had accomplished. I felt I was going to leave my hometown with pride. I was working long hours on a construction job site during the summer to have money during the school year, and was just waiting for the moment where it would all pay off.
When my name was called, I received one $500 scholarship for my first semester. I sat in my seat frozen. I knew I would have to work hard to pay for my education, nothing was going to hold me back, but the reality set in that I wasn’t sure I how was going to be able to make it happen.
Before starting college a lot of the advice I was given was focused on making friends, learning social skills, leaving high school ranking systems behind (meaning please stop bringing up your SAT/ACT scores), and the horrors of living with a bad roommate. What was left out of the picture? Not only how to navigate loans but also what to do with the discovery that living costs money and the realization that you don’t have any of that. The stress of financial struggles in college are often the last thing on most students’ minds, but for working class students like me it can often be the only thing. Working class students are more likely to drop out, and seven out of ten working class students felt their class was a barrier to integrating fully at their university.
In response to this, as an upperclassman preparing to graduate I found it necessary to create 10 survival tips for the working class college student. Most of these tips surround finding rest that you never have time for, saving as much money as possible, and always finding spaces at low cost to get done what needs to get done.
1. Become a smoker/claim to be one.
Now this may seem drastic, but after my first year of quitting I realized how being a smoker–or pretending to be one–can have some significant advantages. In work or school settings as a working class student you will often find yourself pressed for time and running from one thing to the next. Where pretending to be a smoke comes in handy is often times you are allowed multiple smoke breaks throughout the day. This means you can get up to five to ten minutes of pure relaxation time to catch your breath and maybe even sit down for once. It’s a time to close your eyes, forget about the stress to come, and give your body a break. If you actually smoke then you should know the smokers around you. Smokers are almost always willing to share, and bumming a lighter and a cig is no exception. It’s a good way to maintain your breaks without spending money on packs every week. Worst comes to worst hold a used one from the ashtray in your hand in case someone comes to check. It keeps the smell subtle enough that you can still retain the attempt without being removed from work for it being too obvious.
2. Go to every club meeting possible, and stay late.
One of the great parts about college is most club meetings provide food, snacks, and t-shirts during meetings. Showing up to these late as an observer prevents you from having to introduce yourself, and keeps you alert enough to not have to commit too much time. Use this time to identify the group leaders and make sure you have a question to ask in the end. Nod appropriately and wait for the cue of, “and if anyone is still hungry we have extra food.” When the room clears out take what you can carry. Say you either have a study group if questioned or have your backpack open and ready to swipe it in so no one can track the amount you are taking. This is a great way to get snacks throughout the day, and if you are lucky enough you can have a lunch for the next day. Free meals are your best asset for saving money.
3. Make every upperclassman your mentor.
Part of what people say is the college experience is finding those who want to share their experience and lessons with first year students. At times picking the right one can be a valuable asset to your experience. This can also lead to free meals, and morning coffee. Taking time out of your day to meet with these mentors gives you more freedom to be off campus since they are more inclined to show you around the city, and take you places off campus. This also means they often will pay for that meal. Be courteous here, never ask or expect the meal, and immediately show gratitude when they offer to pay. Often times this gratitude will be real since you now know you can save that extra $9.85 for emergencies.
4. Always have plastic bags nearby.
Plastic sandwich or larger bags can be your best friend when it comes to saving meals. This is especially true if your college has a policy where cafeteria access = one meal, or a single cost no matter the amount. These come in handy. Load up your tray as much as possible. Often not using plates adds more room for food on the tray. Eat what you need and really take the time to fill up more than usual. Then go for seconds, and be a little more strategic here. Go for food that you may not get anywhere else. I often would use my bags for salads to stay healthy, cereal for breakfast, and pizza slices for traveling lunches. Think about what can last. This is about giving yourself some wiggle room. If the cafeteria does not allow backpacks, always have a hoodie, jacket, or coat to combat this. You would be surprised how many sandwich bags you can fit in a coat.
5. Become a janitor: access is power.
This step was an accidental placement that provided more services than I could have imagined. Now, being a janitor is far from luxurious. However: the perks are game-changing. If you are able to get in with the university, do everything in your power to rise the ranks and gain access to a key. Sometimes all you really need is one, and you can get everywhere. Remember that this is a long haul. Find time to pick up extra shifts when others are sick. (In college this means many don’t want to work because they don’t have to and wanted extra time for friends and homework). You will get many opportunities to do this.
Ask questions of your supervisor and management teams about rising in the ranks, and become friends with management teams. Befriending them is the key to gaining that raise and key access. If done properly you can begin leadership training after one semester. Stick it out until then. Once in, always attach garbage bags to your cart to collect used toilet paper rolls and paper towels. The bigger the university you are in charge of, the more you are able to get. If you do this weekly you can end up with a decent stock. I have never had to buy toilet paper and paper towels to this day, so trust me those little rolls go a long way. Also, having a key allows you into rooms during the day for quiet study areas and napping spaces. Know the daily shift schedules so you can steer clear of other workers, but sleeping in the lost and found in a janitor closet not only can get you a few free jackets, but also that extra 30 minutes of sleep you needed from last night.
6. Know all the late night/24 hour cafes and their late night deals.
The 24/7 Perkins down the road was the only way I was able to get homework done most nights. There is not often quiet space in dorm rooms, and when the buildings close many students are left without a place to go. These places are a lifesaver, especially when you are getting off your janitor shift around 2 a.m. most nights. Also, know the late night deals: after 9 p.m., Perkins appetizers are half off. You can get a decent meal for under five dollars. Or, just order coffee and bring some of your snack bags. If you befriend the overnight waitress, you can often get a free muffin as well depending on how late you stay.
7. Always befriend your professors.
Becoming close with professors is key here. I cannot tell you how many times professors will lighten their grading if they can see creativity, passion, solid ideas. They are often more willing to walk with you in your journey and give you needed extensions. Tread lightly here, if professors see how hard you are working, they often are more lenient but asking too much can overextend their trust.
8. Ask questions and quote regularly.
This tip ties into impressing and befriending professors. Before class always prepare a quote from the readings and a question for class. These are ways to get by without doing the full reading assignment, (if classes involve readings). It will often impress the professor if you have quotes, and they will not assume you have not done the full readings (if any at all). This can save time for class preparation, and give you more time to pick up hours, as well as focusing on classes that are more time consuming. Prioritization is key here.
9. Never buy books, pens, paper if you don’t have to.
School supplies can be expensive and oftentimes you do not need any. Borrowing pens the first week of class can be helpful, after that pens will be scattered across desks. Welcome centers often have pens as well. Loose paper for notes can always be taken from printers if you know how to open the bins. If not, there are some cheap notebooks available. In terms of books, this can get tricky. I often wait until syllabus day to see what books are needed once given the list. Check out the first few books from the library, (many students don’t use this for their school books), or try and find full online PDFs. This is the test run, depending on if and how the book is used you will know if you need to get the other books. This can be a life saver, so many students spend hundreds of dollars on unused and unread books. Play the game and you will not have this expense. Also if you are in need, oftentimes professors will have copies to borrow while your copy is “still being shipped”.
10. Learn the vocab, use the buzzwords.
Part of being in higher education is playing the part and speaking the right language. One needs to learn the vocabulary used to not stand out. Not using this comes at the cost of professors not seeing your intelligence or taking you seriously. This is an exhausting process but dictionaries can be a useful tool here. Try and take the language from the syllabus and use it in your writing. Or find buzzwords in lectures and use them throughout class. This keeps up your standing with professors and helps you blend in with the rest of your cohort.
My college experience has challenged me in many ways. I began to understand the phase “fake it ’til you make it” more deeply. At first I thought it was an option. A way of motivating individuals to try something courageously even in the face of uncertainty. More and more I see it as a need for survival. It becomes a game that must be played and won to be taken seriously. The language, attitude, actions must fit in line to find success. The reality is the line of making it may never occur. Find successes along the way, but stride on as long as you can. Stride on so you don’t break. It will be exhausting. So make it worth it for you.
