This post was written by Kendall H. in College Station, Texas. Kendall works in the marketing department at Reynolds and Reynolds and has been with the company since March of 2016. She will graduate from Texas A&M in 2018 with a degree in marketing.

While making good grades and getting an accredited degree are important to your future, so are developing the professional and social skills necessary to perform day-to-day tasks in the real world. For many students, the adjustment from college life to their first job after graduation can be a culture shock. The best decision I made my sophomore year of college was to apply for a part-time marketing position at Reynolds and Reynolds.

Working 20-29 hours a week and being a full-time student at Texas A&M definitely has its challenges. But the benefits of working part-time don’t just come in the form of a paycheck. The experience you gain from working in a professional environment can’t be taught through standardized education. It’s something you have to develop over time in the work place. My university set the platform for my success with education, discipline, and structure. Reynolds allows me to apply these things to real situations like meeting deadlines, working under pressure, and making good decisions.

For anyone questioning if they should pursue a job while working on their degree, it’s definitely a rewarding decision, but it takes the right employer to make it all possible. I’m very fortunate Reynolds has such an accommodating part-time program. With exams, studying, and class schedules constantly changing, it’s nice to have a flexible schedule with a team that’s willing to work with me. My team goes out of their way to make sure I have what I need, and offers assistance in areas I’m not familiar with. Working with the marketing team has exposed me to every facet in the marketing process. Now I know what I do and don’t want to do as I start my career.

Full-time and part-time employees in College Station share the same culture, since the majority of us are part-time. Part-time employees aren’t treated much differently than full-time employees. We’re shown respect, fairness, and are treated as equals, which isn’t the case for part-time employees at most companies.

If you’re looking to work part-time while attending college, here are a few suggestions:

Make Time for Yourself

It’s important for students to understand you still need to make time for yourself. Between the stresses of deadlines and exams, make time for the things that make you happy. Find an outlet where you can forget about the work/school week and just relax.

Take Time to Enjoy College

Sign up for clubs, volunteer, and don’t miss out on any opportunities to develop yourself or your career. A lot of students don’t think you can have a social life while working and going to school, but it doesn’t take long to figure out how to manage your time better.

Give 110% Every Day

This is the time in your life when you’re getting everything figured out. Focus on your education, focus on bettering yourself, and most importantly, never stop focusing on tomorrow. How you decide to approach work now will set you up for the career path you choose after graduation, so make every second count!

You have to put a lot of hard work and long hours in, but the knowledge you’ll gain and the skills you’ll develop are irreplaceable. I feel confident that after graduation I’ll be able to take what I’ve learned from Reynolds and Texas A&M and apply it to any career I choose to pursue.