I feel very lucky that I have had such an amazing college experience as I head into my senior year.  I can honestly say that one of the things that has contributed most to my growth in college has been working on campus. I have had a variety of on campus jobs, and they have all benefited me in different ways.

Occupational therapy students working with students from the Life Prep program on some fun interactive activities.

During my freshman year, I worked with LifePrep and Partners for Learning.  LifePrep is an organization that takes in college-aged students with disabilities and teaches them life skills. They also attend Nazareth classes to get acclimated with campus and learn from the professors and other students here. My job entailed hanging out with the life prep students, helping them with their homework, and taking them to classes. Working with LifePrep is extremely rewarding because you get to help out other students, and I met some great people along the way. I would highly encourage you to consider working with LifePrep if you’re looking for an on campus job, or you can volunteer with the Best Buddies club, which is with the same students, but with different job responsibilities.

Partners for Learning is a group on campus that sends students to schools/daycares around the Rochester area. My group went to the Lewis Street YMCA where we spent time with the kids, and helped them with their homework. This was also very rewarding because it was a way to give back to the community. This is a great job

Cassandra Matalavage at SWAN Cassie used her spring 2014 experience in Partners for Learning to meet the new Experiential Learning requirement that’s now part of Naz core curriculum.

to consider, especially if you want to go into teaching. Although I am not still working for LifePrep or Partners for Learning due to time constraints, I have gained so much insight from those experiences, even though they had nothing to do with my major.

I have also had jobs working in Student Activities as a marketing assistant, and the Marketing and Communications department working with photography/audio and social media. There are endless opportunities here on campus to find jobs, and it is a great way to gain experience in different areas to prepare you for your future career. And, who knows, you may even discover more about your own passions and interests. I have learned so much from my jobs at Naz and have gained real-world experience that you can’t always find in the classroom setting.

Getting on campus jobs is one of the things here at Nazareth that has helped me enhance my college experience, and I would strongly encourage you to consider doing the same. The best place to start is at the campus job fair at the beginning of the semester. All of the on campus employers are there with their own table and posters, and you can explore on-campus job opportunities.