The analysis of most America college students having part—time jobs

姜晴川

Thesis statement： It is very common that most of America college students have part-time jobs. There is a background of it. There are many common attitudes and recently there are some new attitudes on the students taking part-time jobs have appeared.

I. Introduction

American college students use holiday or their spare time to take part-time jobs are a very common phenomenon. There are two mains reasons for students to take part-time jobs， including the general reason that is the traditional values， and the specific reasons for their own. There also exist different attitudes and effects upon the students. The recent studies came from the United States Education Committee have shown that： at present， the American four-year college students who take part-time jobs at about 77%. The students who study and the same time taking full-time jobs at about 26%. Now， the American students working-time is longer than before. Besides， American college students taking part-time jobs has enrolled in the Federation Education Program. （Andrea） Both students and the public widely believed that it is a good way to com into contact with the society for students themselves. And it can also improve the students capability and responsibility. Its very useful and helpful for students future and help themselves stand on their own feet. Moreover， students taking part-time jobs for different reasons and it seems as a kind of traditional value in the American college students live. Besides， there are new policies that good for the taking part-time job appears.

II. The background and the fact that the America college students have part-time jobs

The national character in the America history： Individual.

“The young Americans having part-time jobs inflect the America National Character. One important part of the Traditional American Values is the Individual Freedom and self-reliance. The one value that nearly every American would agree would agree upon is individual freedom. It is the cornerstone of American values. Americans view themselves as highly individualistic in their thoughts and actions. They have been trained since very early in their lives to consider themselves as separate individuals who are responsible for their own situations in life and their own destinies” （ Mao 76 ）.

“There is however a price to be paid for this individual freedom： self-reliance. It means that people should take care of themselves， solve their own problem， and stand on their own two feet. Americans achieve both financial and emotional independence from their parents usually by age of eighteen or twenty-one. Most Americans believe that they must be self-reliant in order to keep their freedom. When people are dependent， they risk loosing freedom， and they may also loose respect of their peer” （Mao 76）.

2. The students reasons for taking part-time jobs are different.

The summer job is one kind of the part-time jobs. “The summer job is a tradition among students of American universities. Long before the end of the school year， students begin their search for jobs during vacation. Students send letters to business， talk to employers about job opportunities during the summer， and ask friends and relatives to be on the lookout for them. By June the students have usually solved the problems and begin to make preparations for leaving their books to enter the business world” （Ye 232）.

Except the traditional values， there also have many different specific reasons for wanting the part-time jobs. “Some work to help pay their school expenses； others work to gain experience in their chosen professions； still others work just for the fun of it” （Ye 233）. Typist， construction worker， salesman， lifeguard， and waiter these are some of the more common jobs that students try to find especially during the summer months. “Reports on the trend towards students getting part-time jobs to help pay for their tuition and expense. Comment by Trudy Steinfeld of New York University that the number of NYU students working for the college has risen this year； Increase in the numbers of students receiving work-study grants due to a fall in their parents income” （Koepple， David 721）.

III. Linguist to the background of American students taking part-time jobs， there are many attitudes on the students taking part-time jobs

1. America colleges attitudes.

Harvard University has a famous saying that “three one-third”. That is to say， one-third time to do the course， one-third time to take part in the social unity activities and the community sever， the rest one-third time to take part-time jobs， the students who can do this can be the students. To this point， we can find that collegess positive attitude on it. Many colleges offer the in-school jobs， such as in the university cafeteria， library and dormitory.

There are also some the out-school jobs， such as to be waiters in the restaurants or the balls coach and so on. For example， “Law students who work the part-time job say their legal skills are sharpened by outside work， although their study time is cut. That is one finding reported by the American Bar Foundation in a study called “Moon lighting in law school.” Reports Ronald Pipkin is the professor and director of the Legal Studies Program at the University of Massachusetts. Pipkins report was published in a recent issue of the ABF Research Journal” （Bill 721）.

2. Governments attitudes and business attitudes.

Country to fears about the dangers of holding an outside job， employed students do not carry lighter course loads， at more classes or have poorer morale or class involvement than students who dont work. However， recently there are new policies appear. “March10--A bill that would allow teenagers to work more hours during the school year got a mixed response during a legislative hearing Wednesday. Supporters of the bill said that it would give more flexibility to business and allow young adults to make their own decision about work. Opponents said they fear that the changes would skew students balance between work and school” （Hemmerdinger， J. 76）.

There is another new phenomenon that some businesses offer students jobs. “Ares businesses offer students part-time jobs if they maintain good grades and attend school regularly in Washoe County， Nevada” （Ho，Amaly 319）. Not only for the college students taking part-time jobs， the local system “forged an alliance with area businesses after the local high schools dropout rate approached twenty-five percent. If students grades or attendance records fall， the students get counselling from both the school and the employer. In addition， the school will tailor a flexible school schedule so that the students can hold the jobs and still attend classes” （Ho，Amaly 319）.

IV. The elicitation taken from America college students has part-time jobs

American college students have to finish a lot of recessive and obvious courses. Besides， they have to spend time taking part-time jobs for their school expense and taking part in many social unity activities and community sever. Harvard Universitys famous saying “three one-third”. According to the recent research， it is very common that the children from the American European （white people） who have the middle class and upper level income families taking part-time jobs. The kind of jobs conclude the university cafeteria， library， dormitory and the students taking high responsibility while working， and making full use of the spare time after class. （“Children from the American European” 5） In the Northeast towns in American， it is surprise that the students who take part-time jobs mostly are the white young students rather than the Chinese students. In recent years， there is a phenomenonn that most the Chinese students who come to American to study dont take part-time jobs. There is an interesting conclusion about it ： “First， they never taking part-time jobs； Second， generally spending many； Third， difficult in studying； Fourth， loneliness in minds； Fifth， when having holiday go back country， besides， there is the increasing numbers choose the international flights First-class cabins”（“Children from the American European” 6）. In comparison with American college students， Chinese students have less chance to develop their independence and responsibility. Chinese students should accumulate the work experience and the skills in contacting with the society in future.

V. Conclusion

Having part-time jobs among the American college students is a common phenomenon. Because of the individual and self-reliance in the Americans history， more and more try their best to be independent and stand on their own feet students part-time jobs are very helpful to their development. Taking part-time jobs not only can develop their independence and responsibility， but can also accumulate the work experience and the skills in contacting with the society in future. In comparison with the American college students， Chinese students dont do well in this aspect， most Chinese students lack of the independent character. As everyone known， it is the biggest handicaps on the way to be succeeded. The one important difference from the American students and the Chinese students may be at this point. So as Chinese students， it is the key point to be aware of it and learn something from the American college students independence， try best to be more independent in the future.

Bibliography：

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[2]Children from the American European 5-6 n.p. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. .

[3]Hemmerdinger， J. “Books versus jobs？ Opinions split on bill to let teens work more” Portland Press Herald （ME）， （2011）：122. Print.

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[5]Koepple， David. “For Many College Students， A Job （or Two） to Pay Tuition.” New York Times. 26 Oct 2003. 319. Print.

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