Hard to do both work full time & uni part time? 🤔

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Quick background about me! I’m currently a year 1 student in a part-time Bachelor’s degree program in Mechanical Engineering at NTU 🇸🇬 I am also working as an Admin & Operations Manager at a SME company for about 2 years and a half which i continued after my poly internship. ✨

🔖Why did I choose to pursue part-time university while working full-time?

After completing my polytechnic studies, I decided to continue working at my internship company due to an attractive offer and uncertainty about my future path. Instead of remaining idle, I preferred to start earning while figuring out my next steps. Consequently, I took a one-year gap before applying for university. Since my work was in an engineering-related field, similar to my polytechnic course, I debated whether to continue on the engineering path or pursue a different field. After a year of working and receiving advice from my boss, I ultimately chose to apply for part-time studies in Mechanical Engineering at NTU, as I wanted to advance my professional prospects for the future.

🔖How do I manage it all?

As a young working adult, only 20 years old at the time, I aimed to live life to the fullest and savor every moment. Balancing work, studies, and other activities became a necessity. I had relationships to maintain, personal growth to pursue, and a lot on my plate.

👩🏻‍💻Work: I was fortunate to hold a managerial position, which meant I didn't have to perform manual tasks. My responsibilities revolved around managing the company's finances, administrative work, overseeing workers, and handling projects. Although it seemed like a lot, I had an amazing boss who trusted me to work independently and deliver results. This allowed me some free time at the office, which I utilized for completing my school work after finishing my work tasks. My schedule involved working the entire day and then attending evening classes at 7 pm. Fortunately, the timing allowed me enough time to travel.

👩🏻‍🎓Study: Transitioning back to a study mindset and adapting to the demands of university proved challenging. University studies required a higher level of self-study and self-discipline. The first semester was particularly difficult, but I made significant improvements by the second semester. Part-time university classes were held at night, and we had similar assessments, continuous assessments (CA), and exams as full-time students. Unfortunately, our exams were just as challenging. I often reached home around 11 pm after attending classes, making it impossible to focus on school work during weekdays. As a result, I dedicated my weekends to completing assignments and studying.

👸🏻Life: It was crucial for me to allocate time for my loved ones and prioritize self-care. Despite my busy schedule, I still managed to engage in social activities such as dinners and occasional visits to clubs. I am blessed with understanding friends and a supporting boyfriend🙆🏻‍♀️. They will make time for me whenever i want to meet them.

❤️‍🔥Mentality: I believe in finding happiness in whatever I do to avoid burning out. I maintain a positive and determined mindset, although there were times when stress overwhelmed me and I questioned why I pushed myself so hard. Fortunately, I had the support of my loved ones and classmates who encouraged me throughout the journey. I always kept in mind the future rewards of success that would come after years of dedicated effort. Imagining the benefits of graduating with a degree and 4-5 years of working experience provided the motivation to persevere🤞🏻

I can do it so are you💪🏻