Category: Advice

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Advice Student Life at VC

How to Master Balancing Multiple Responsibilities as a Community College Student

Many community college students have other responsibilities they have to balance on top of school. This could be working full-time jobs, parenting, managing mental health, and other major responsibilities that could interfere or hinder education. Balancing these roles can feel overwhelming and exhausting. For this article, I talked with students from different backgrounds about how they balance school and life. It looks at the challenges they face and shares tips that might help others dealing with similar struggles.

Heather Ornelas, a student parent attending Ventura College, has experienced times in her life where she was caring for her mother, raising her teenage son, and attending school full-time all at once. She admitted that,

“It can feel overwhelming trying to give your best in every area of your life at once.”

Heather shares a feeling that many student parents experience, which is the pressure to do well in school while still caring for family. This stressful situation can have a big impact on mental health if not managed. That’s why having a strong plan is so important when life gets busy. Staying organized is how Heather balances hers.

“I rely a lot on planning ahead. I check Canvas daily, write down all my deadlines, and break bigger assignments into smaller steps so they don’t pile up. I also try to work ahead when I know I have a busy week coming up.”

These tips reduce a lot of stress and make time for other responsibilities. Having a structured schedule and planning ahead can really make a difference for students. When mapping out your week, setting aside time for classes, work shifts, and family, everything will start to feel more manageable.

On stressful days, prioritizing mental health is really important. For Heather, she uses campus resources and focuses on her personal wellness to help manage stress.

“I’ve used counseling resources on campus, which helped me talk through things instead of holding everything in. I’ve also started going to the gym regularly, which has made a huge difference in managing stress and anxiety.”

It’s important to use school resources when you need assistance or guidance. A lot of students try to handle stress, problems with academics, or financial challenges on their own, but colleges provide many helpful resources that they could be using for help. Many colleges offer counseling, tutoring, advising, and other support systems specifically to help students navigate difficult situations.

Every students situation is difference, so the way they manage their responsibilities will be different too. While some, like Heather, juggle parenting and caregiving, others, like Eddie, that have to manage the physical and mental strain of full-time employment.

A full-time mechanic and student, Eddie has days that are often long and exhausting. His biggest challenge, he explained, has been:

“Getting a full 8 hours of sleep, squeezing in time for homework, and balancing my personal life.”

After spending most of his day at work, he has found that he has little energy to focus on assignments. This can easily lead to missing assignments, grade drops, or added stress if not managed carefully. To prevent this, Eddie has found some solutions that has helped him:

“I plan ahead and map out deadlines on a calendar to stay on top of homework. I like to set reminders a few days before assignments are due to help prevent stress. I also think it’s important to create a consistent weekly routine, such as dedicating certain times of the day for homework.”

Planning a schedule you can consistently follow that fits your daily responsibilities can make a significant difference in staying organized and productive. Building a steady routine will also improve discipline and make you feel in control of a busy life.

Heather and Eddie’s experiences show that balance isn’t about having fewer responsibilities but more about managing them correctly. Their stories show the importance of planning, using available resources, protecting mental health, and staying on top of assignments.

Hopefully, these tips and experiences from community college students can give guidance and encouragement as you manage your own busy schedule.

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Advice Student Life at VC

5 Easy Side Hustles for Broke College Students

Many students struggle with the costs of everyday life and many of them don’t even have time for regular part-time jobs. As someone who has also been actively looking for more ways to increase the amount in their bank account, I thought that I could help others by sharing my findings. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of common easy side hustles that people do for some extra cash. These can be easily implemented into your routine without taking over your entire schedule.

  1. Selling Homemade Goods

Many people already have a hobby that they enjoy. Whether it’s crocheting, clay art, baked goods etc. If you already have something that you enjoy doing, you can potentially turn that into cash. You can easily set up an Etsy, Facebook, or eBay page and put your homemade goods up for sale. Depending on your skill level and other market prices, price your goods accordingly. Eventually you may be able to start taking orders or feedback from customers to better your products.

2. Campus Tutoring

Ventura College offers a wide variety of on campus jobs and one of them is their campus tutoring program. You can be a drop-in tutor which is where you choose your hours and go to the tutoring center and kind of wait for students to come (which can be easy money), OR you can be an embedded tutor where you have an assigned class. The requirements are that you have a minimum 3.0 GPA, an A or B in the subject you will be tutoring in, are in good academic standing, and you need a faculty recommendation. You don’t have to be a full-time student so that can allow for more freedom and working hours. Their pay rates are $17.33/hr for drop-in tutoring and $18.19/hr for an embedded tutor. The downside is that you can’t apply anytime you feel like it. Sign-ups seem to be only at the end of the semester. Join Our Team | Ventura College

3. Rover

Rover is an app/website where pet-owners can hire people to pet-sit or walk their animals. You can set your own rate and work your own hours. If you decide to put yourself at a minimum wage rate of $16.90 in the state of California, and work of a minimum of 10 hours a week, that means you can cash an extra $160/wk. It may not seem like much but it can add up and cover some basic costs or extra personal interests you may have.

4. Food Delivery Services

There are many food delivery services that are readily available now such as DoorDash, Grubhub etc. If you have a car, you can make this work a bit easier (keep in mind cost of gas), but there are also many people who use bikes to deliver food. People make most of their money on food delivery services through tips, and payments vary per delivery. Some tips I found were to work during peak hours. These would include lunch and dinner hours where people are more likely to order food.

5. Flipping/Reselling Items

I interviewed a fellow VC student and he said that he buys cameras off Facebook, eBay, or local thrift shops and: cleans/fixes them up, makes sure they function well, and packages them to resell for a small profit. His hobby is collecting cameras and he wants to be a photo journalist so this extra cash grab also allows him to further his knowledge of cameras and their value/quality. This shows that you can take something you are already interested in and already do and make a profit. It may not be much monetarily but the value of honing his skills more makes up for that. This can be done with clothing, toys, furniture, other electronics etc. There are so many opportunities.

One last little thing I’d like to add. Make sure that for whatever you decide to do, you plan it out accordingly. Keep in mind your actual net profit after expenses and taxes.

Finally, I asked our fellow VC student if he had any final words of advice or of encouragement and here’s what he had to say:

“Understand that it isn’t going to be “easy” easy, but that hard work will pay off. Don’t overwhelm yourself and start with a huge task or expectation. Don’t worry. If one thing doesn’t work out, don’t be afraid to try something different.”
-Quentin Giesea Obeck

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Livin’ Large on Laundry Money

Broke… but romanticizing it.

You might be like most college students, experiencing a specific type of broke that comes in the form of realizing that you have exactly enough money for gas… and maybe laundry. Between classes, textbooks, and trying to have some sort of social life, “fun” starts to feel like a luxury you might not be able to afford.

So I decided to test something: Could I spend and entire day exploring Ventura with just $20?

In the words of Sia, “I love cheap thrills.” This challenge felt like the perfect way to find them. The day started as a budgeting experiment but became a reminder that Ventura is uniquely suited for inexpensive fun. We’ve got ocean views that don’t cost a thing, locally owned coffee shops that still feel personal, and small businesses that remember your face.

Preparation: What you actually need

Before setting out, I kept it simple- A $20 bill, a jacket (because Ventura is a bit unpredictable sometimes), a water bottle, and a small packed sandwich to hold me over.

Packing something small ahead of time helps stretch the budget without taking away from the experience. We’re not trying to “go without”, just spending intentionally.

Morning: Donuts, Coffee, Views

First stop – KD Donuts on Telegraph Road. Not only are you getting what I will confidently call the actual best donut in town, but you’re also supporting a family-owned business that has been part of Ventura for nearly 40 years. It’s a win-win, you get an awesome treat, and you can feel good about where your money’s going. An insider tip: If you’re nice, she might throw in a few donut holes. And let me be clear — it is a requirement that you order the apple fritter. It’s massive. You won’t feel cheated once you feel the weight of it in that little paper sleeve. At $1.75, you kinda feel like you’re getting away with highway robbery. As soon as we drove up, the owner smiled and said,

“I haven’t seen you guys in a while. Did you move? How are you? Come back more often.”

That one comment says everything about why local businesses matter. It doesn’t feel like a transaction, it feels like building community. Our total came to $1.89.

Stop #2 – Daylight & Moon cafe on Loma Vista Road. The space is bright and clean, the staff are genuinely friendly, and they actually care about the quality of what they serve, even if it’s just drip coffee (which is what we’re getting). The coffee is strong and punchy which is perfect to pair with our sweet treat. My drip came out to $3.77.

Running total: $5.66

Stop #3 – With coffee and donut in hand, we set out for Cemetery Memorial Park. This might be one of Ventura’s most underrated spots. There’s something about the grass, sunshine, and island views (all completely free might I add). That’s the thing about this challenge: the best parts of the day were free. We sat, talked, took our time, and genuinely enjoyed it.

Afternoon: More Views, Treasure Hunts, Wandering

After our slow morning, it felt right to lean into another one of Ventura’s natural beauties. We headed up to the Botanical Gardens (which are free on Fridays). If you can time your visit right, it’s one of the best free experiences. The trails wind up the hillside with ocean views that will force you to come back at your earliest opportunity. And if it’s not Friday? I recommend Arroyo Verde Park. Still beautiful. Still completely free.

Stop #5 – The $3 thrift challenge. A challenge within a challenge. To keep things interesting, I added a rule: If you’re going to buy something, it has to be under $3, and it HAS to be something you love – not just something cheap. So you either get to walk out proud that you saved your money… or you find a hidden gem that you really treasure. After scanning shelves and digging a little, I found what I’m pretty sure is a shot glass. But for me, I will be using my $2.14 tiny mug to pot a succulent. If you aren’t as successful as me, you still get some great entertainment and to browse with a purpose.

Next was wandering through downtown. We continue the browsing- but window shopping only this time. Downtown is built for strolling, so you won’t feel like you stand out for not buying anything.

Running total: $7.80

Botanical Gardens.

Coalition Thrift.

Walking Downtown.

Evening: Tacos, Layers, and a Sunset Finale

Now’s a good time to bring out that jacket. We made our way down to Beach House Tacos along the promenade. Tacos and ocean views are always a winning combination for me, so this felt like the right place to close out the day. The menu has plenty of options, but this is where things got interesting. While we were in line, I mentioned the $20 challenge to another customer. She immediately leaned in and said,

“Order the kids street tacos. I got them for my kid once and they were so good I started ordering them for myself too. It’s the best deal on the menu.”

And she was right. The kids street taco plate was $6, simple, flavorful, and more filling than expected. Add a coke for $4, and dinner came out to $10.78. And best of all, it still felt like a real “going out” meal.

Talking to people, exploring your options, and staying open, will all help you find better ways to spend your money.

We took our tacos further out on the Ventura Pier and sat watching the waves roll in as the sun set. Tacos and ocean air. Not bad for laundry money.

The Final Tally

{Morning: $5.66} {Afternoon: $2.14} {Evening: $10.78}

Total spent: $18.58

Money left: $1.42

We stayed under budget and had so. much. fun.

Another great thing about this day was noticing how much Ventura offers when you slow down enough to look for it. Supporting family-owned businesses, talking to strangers, walking instead of rushing, hunting instead of impulse buying. If you’re a VC student who feels like fun is getting too expensive, I’d encourage you to try something like this, maybe not the exact same stops, but your own version. Pick a number, pick a jacket, bring a friend, see what you find. Ventura makes it easier than you think.