Spring Break
From bodies to burgers, it's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it
Deur Julie Tcha
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Features
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Like one of the many Sacramento State students, criminal justice senior Juan Barrios works to stay in school.
As a construction worker, Barrios builds barns and beds for cows and pigs in Tulare County.
"I've been doing construction work for four years now...I really need a job in Sacramento," Barrios said.
Barrios is grateful for his job because it gets him through school and life, but said he wants a job that isn't so dirty. From separating water pipelines to pouring concrete, Barrios is constantly covered with concrete mix.
Although there are no statistics that detail just how much college students are working, many Sac State students currently hold jobs.
"The great majority of Sac State students work," said Anna Domek, career counselor for the Career Center.
Domek said those who have to work should look into jobs that are related to their field of study.
"There is no right or wrong job," Domek said. "Those skills learned are still beneficial to students in their career."
A job may be nothing more than just the job that is getting you by, but it can also teach you life lessons such as discipline and responsibility.
Although many consist of flipping burgers or cleaning up tables at restaurants, these jobs help pay for tuition, books, rent, food, gas and the occasional social get-together.
Barrios said he doesn't work while he's in school. He is only able to get by because he manages his spending habits very well.
"I'm graduating in May so I want a job in the criminal justice field when school starts," Barrios said.
Some students have better luck finding jobs in their career field.
Sac State postgraduate and biology major Torin La Day does what he enjoys-working with dead bodies.
Well, La Day usually calls them donors. He has been working at a non-profit eye and tissue bank called Sierra Eye and Tissue Donor Services as a 24/7 on-call tissue recovery technician for about a year now.
Although it is right up the alley of his field of study, it isn't any cleaner than working at a fast food restaurant.
"Working with donors is a dirty job, but we wear protective clothing just as if we were going into surgery," La Day said.
He said that although the pay isn't much and sometimes he doesn't get enough rest, he feels good knowing that his time is being put to good use.
Rest. Most students don't get enough of it as it is. For the past two days, La Day hasn't been able to get some of it because he has been traveling throughout California for cases.
La Day's latest case was a burn skin case. La Day and his two partners took the skin from the back, thigh and lower legs of the donor to donate them to someone who has been burnt.
"The skin we take for the burn skin cases is very thin, thinner than a sheet of paper," he said, second-guessing himself because he hasn't slept in two days.
The past few days have been busy, however, once school starts La Day is able to give his availability to the clinic, he said.
Many Sac State students have been able to find jobs right on campus.
Junior organizational communication major Jessica Compton has been working on campus for University Enterprises, Inc. Catering and the University Union Center Restaurant for the past three years.
"I bus tables, serve orders and clean the kitchen in the restaurant," Compton said. "Most of the dirty work is dishwashing, which I only do during big events."
Serving orders and cleaning tables are not dirty jobs because waiters want to be clean for other customers.
Compton said that although her job is very convenient and the hours are flexible, the pay is only minimum wage plus tips.
"I would work at an office that relates to my career choice, but it wouldn't work around my schedule," she said.
It might only be a job that helps pay for her books and rent, but Compton is grateful for her on-campus job because she gives her hours she'd like to work to her manager to be approved.
Working an average of 22 hours a week, Compton said she is able to focus on school because she isn't stressed out as much as she would be if she had worked at another job.
"Students get first picks on the schedules," Compton said.
Seriously, what kind of other job would allow you to work around your own schedule?
Compton may just be one of the struggling students who are fortunate enough to find the perfect job that puts study-time on a pedestal.
Sac State students are exposed to many opportunities to find jobs related to their field.
One of the services the Career Center offers to students is Career Connection, Domek said.
Career Connection is available through the Career Center website where numerous employers post jobs for students of all majors.
"Students can also find jobs and internships through their departments and career fairs held on campus," Domek said.
She also said that it's a good idea for students to try to find jobs related to their field to expose themselves to it.
"It will give students an idea of what they will like," Domek said.
Deur Julie Tcha can be reached at dtcha@statehornet.com
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