I never would have thought that I would be working another job on top of a graduate assistantship, but life showed me that itis possible. I am a Starbucks Barista during certain evenings of the week and weekends. Being a Barista has actually helped me a lot when it comes to Student Affairs and working with teams. Do I have a lot of down time? Not really. But is it beneficial for me overall? I believe so. I actually enjoy having something that keeps me busy and keep some extra money in my pocket.
Fast Pace Environments
I really developed time management skills while being a barista and graduate student. I always had to be mindful of all my responsibilities. Being a graduate student and a Barista, I deal with working and seeing so many people on a daily basis. I work on teams, committees, and make sure that customers get the customer service that they wanted when coming in the door.
Networking
You would be surprised what
coffee and a positive attitude can do for your career. Learning to have good etiquette and how to navigate challenges in short amounts of time has been a great tool to have in my toolkit. Sometimes, my students see me and get a kick out of me working at Starbucks as well. I think it is good to show that we all have to know what’s best for us financially and realistically. Having this experience has made me even more approachable when going to national conferences such as NASPA.
I have learned that a lot of professionals in higher education have side hustles such as Starbucks. One partner was a professor at a college university and has her PhD. She was one of the first people that I worked with. I told her I was going into higher education and ever since then she has been a colleague and another connection in the field.
Being Organized
Hav
ing a lot of things on my schedule and plate can be overwhelming, but this has really helped me find ways to be organized. I found what works best for me when trying to get through a hectic schedule. Example: I love using my Passion Planner to plan out my entire day and week on Sunday nights so I can feel that I am ready to conquer the world that Monday.
Interacting with people on a daily basis and being authentic is really a key aspect to being successful. I believe people appreciate honesty, quality, and hard work. Being a Student Affairs and Higher Education Graduate Student and a Barista at Starbucks at the same time is very exciting and I never get bored, that’s for sure!
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This post is part of our #SAsidehustles series, which focuses on the SA pros with a second passion. These Student Affairs Professionals transition their mental and physical energy into a project that acts as both an emotional release and some level of supplemental income. From Etsy shops to horse braiding, these stories are bound to make you want to find your “by night” side hustle. For more information, check out the intro post by Tom Krieglstein. Be sure to read the other posts in this series too!
