Seattle: A City of Opportunities
By Dani Richmond, Student Employment Coordinator, Office of Student Employment
I recently had the pleasure of connecting with SPU students and an alumna who work off campus in a variety of settings. Their eyes light up and you can hear the energy in their voices when they discuss what their jobs involve. It may seem daunting to consider your student working off campus, especially if your student is not from the Seattle area. However, in the words of junior Cody Kilpatrick, “the potential gain of life experience, job opportunity, and cultural development far outweighs the risk of a slightly longer commute or the inconvenience of an off-campus job.” As SPU’s student employment coordinator, I hear three main questions from concerned parents, so I asked a few of our students to address those questions.
How do you travel to your job off-campus?
During the first month of her freshman year at SPU, senior Michaela Hope started working at the UW Oncology and Radiation Research Lab. She always uses the bus to get to work, and checks out a free bus pass from the ASSP office. In her words, it’s “super easy and super free.”
Alumna Nicole Basta ’15 also started working during the first month of her freshman year at SPU — in her case at Solid Ground, a local nonprofit committed to building community to alleviate poverty, racism, and other types of oppression. Like Michaela, she used public transportation to get to her job. During her four years at Solid Ground, Nicole grew and took on more responsibility. She also was able to build personal and professional connections, which helped her get hired as Solid Ground's volunteer coordinator after she graduated. In this position Nicole now oversees the current SPU students working there and is able to mentor them in the same ways she was mentored as a freshman.
Junior Cody Kilpatrick originally walked to his job at Fremont Abbey Arts Center, then switched to busing more as his schedule got tighter. Now he enjoys having a car so that he can drive to work. It’s only 1.4 miles away, but, he notes, “Seattle is a hilly city!”
How supportive is your supervisor of your academics?
“My supervisor is incredibly supportive. I’ve been allowed to make my own schedule each quarter depending on my academic commitments, and have always been able to choose my time off around finals, breaks, or time out of town. When I’ve been sick, I’ve been able to stay home. I’ve also been given abundant grace in my mistakes, whether they’ve had to do with scheduling or my work in the office. My supervisor has told me multiple times that I am most importantly a student, and that my commitments to that role must supersede my commitments to this work position.” — Michaela Hope, Class of 2016
“My boss is incredibly supportive of my academics, and encourages me to look to the future. He realizes the importance of an education in today’s world, and lets me know that, if I need to take time off for finals, I’m more than welcome to take it.” — Brad Estby, Class of 2018
What advice or words of encouragement would you give regarding off-campus employment?
This question elicited powerful responses:
“I know it can be a little scary to think of your child going out into the world, and into the work force, but I think it’s one of the best things they can do. College is a time for personal exploration, growth, and experience, and work study is a productive, structured way for students to get a lot of that. It’s a wonderful opportunity, and it did wonders for me, so I feel confident in saying it can do the same for others.” — Nicole Basta, Class of 2015
“Finding work off campus can be really uncomfortable. There are already so many changes when you’re transitioning to college! I really believe, though, that discomfort brings learning and growth, and in this case it’s worth it. You learn about the city, you develop a new level of independence and confidence in yourself, and you have the opportunity to broaden your connections and experiences.” — Michaela Hope, Class of 2016
“You’re sending your student to an incredibly colorful city with opportunities that extend far beyond what you can predict; to say no to the wealth of opportunity outside of campus would be a loss.” — Cody Kilpatrick, Class of 2017
“Explore all opportunities, regardless of how small the company is. You never know when you might find a diamond in the rough like I did. I work with great people who really know their stuff, and my co-workers mentor me and offer all the guidance I need to be successful in the IT world. Working on campus is great for the convenience of things, but working off campus allows you to network with other people in the field.” — Brad Estby, Class of 2018
Unparalleled opportunities
Though this is a small sample set, I’ve heard these same responses from students over and over again during my time as student employment coordinator. SPU has a reputation in our area for having excellent students whom local businesses love to hire. Those businesses understand too that hiring a college student means that academics come first.
The life-changing and career-shaping opportunities available at these organizations are often unparalleled.