East Carolinian

Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: staff photo

From gas prices to minimum wage, citizens across the nation are feeling the effects of a distressed economy.

However, as it becomes more difficult to find steady jobs and effectively maintain a steady stream of revenue, students are beginning to experience the hardships of providing for themselves.

For ECU students like Brendan Nachman, the ability to provide for himself is getting more difficult with the low minimum wage not being enough to meet his needs.

"Even as a shift leader at Coldstone, I still get paid minimum wage," said Nachman, who believes that even though minimum wage isn't enough, raising it still wouldn't do much. "I don't think it would solve anything, and to be honest, the money should [go] to jobs where it is needed, such as teaching."

Nachman adds that even being a student is starting to affect his parents.

"Both of my parents are teachers, and they are not really living the easy life, especially with me in college," he said.

Senior Crystal Packard, who graduates in December, believes that the economic woes are only going to get worse as she begins her journey into the job market.

"I'm still job searching, but I'm already worried that I won't do well financially when I graduate," said Packard, who holds two jobs outside of being a full-time student. "It isn't always easy to make ends meet while going to school full-time, but once I graduate, it's going to be even more difficult because I have to start paying for even more expenses."

But while some students are actively seeking jobs, many are not getting very far.

While many young students have one or more jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the amount of students who classify themselves as "unemployed" but still seeking a job, is almost three times higher than the actual unemployment rate in the United States.

And even when students get the job, many are making just minimum wage, which is currently $6.55 in North Carolina. For some, it is not enough to pay the bills.

Dean Smith, the associate director of finance and administration at ECU, sees the struggles that many students are experiencing, especially with getting through higher education.

"Whether you are talking about parents who have lost their jobs, or college funds that have lost thousands of dollars, students are feeling the crunch of the ever increasing costs of higher education combined with dwindling resources to pay for it," he said. "The key for a student's ability to pay for college going forward will be finding ways to lower costs while finding other forms of funding, such as loans or part-time jobs."

Smith recommends that students educate themselves on financial matters, as well as adjusting their lifestyle to fit the tightening budgets they will inevitably face. For a classroom experience, Smith suggests that ECU students take Finance 1904, Personal Finance.

"[This class offers] practical, real world information that can help students make smart financial decisions," Smith said.

Students can also visit the Career Center's Web site at ecu.edu/career to find a listing of jobs in Greenville and the state.

This writer can be contacted from features@theeastcarolinian.com.

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