I'm in need of need of some advice. I'm 18 and completing my nursing prereqs at a 4-year university in one year, and I'm also in the honors program, so I have additional requirements I must meet for that. My issue is, being 18, I still live with my parents, and lately they've been pressuring me to get a job to help out. Of course I would love to be able to help out, but I'm at a loss here. See, when I first started my prereqs I WAS working and had a temporary position. I was working about 15-20 hours a week and it was definitely difficult. I started falling behind in my classes and it just wasn't really working out. I finished out my time as a temp and finished part way into the term. Since then I've been able to get caught up in all my courses and I haven't been as stressed out. But on the other hand, I still feel obligated to work to help out my parents since they are paying my car insurance ($80/mo) and my cell phone ($30/mo). I do some work for our neighbor and she pays me $60 per month, so I'm able to get my own gas and clothes, etc., but I still feel like I owe my parents for what they are paying for me.
I just don't know what to do. They keep pressuring me and hinting around that I need to get a job, but I don't feel that it's such a great idea at this point in my educational career. I've tried explaining to them that my coursework is extremely rigorous and I also have to start practicing for the TEAS on top of it all, and I've explained how my previous job was affecting my education, but they don't seem to understand that for nursing prereqs, "just passing" isn't enough like it is in high school (or even some other college majors). I feel like they think I'm just making up excuses. On top of my nurising prereqs, my honors program also has GPA requirement that must be met, and I can't drop the honors program because I get priority registration which is extremely important for nursing at my school, as prereq classes fill up quick and many are only offered once or twice a year (we're on quarters, not semesters). I know it's stupid to sacrifice grades, especially during prereqs in a California BSN program (and I know it will only get harder once I'm actually in the nursing program), but at the same time I want to be responsible and pay my own expenses because my parents have their own financial issues to worry about. I'm just so torn between what to do, so I'm just wondering what everyone's thoughts and opinions are. What would you do in my postion? Also, if you think I should get a job, how many hours a week do you think is reasonable while going through school, and do you have any tips on how to juggle school and work (seeing as it didn't go well for me the first time)? Or if you think it's more wise to focus mainly on school, how can I make my parents understand my situation a bit better?
I really appreciate anyone who read this dreadfully long post (sorry it isn't the most coherent thing I've written...), and thanks to anyone who is able to provide any advice!
