The Struggle of Graduating on Time While Working Overtime

For many final-year university students, the biggest hurdles are usually thesis revisions or a supervisor's delayed approval. However, for students juggling work and studies, an additional, formidable adversary emerges: uncompromising work hours.

These students face the looming deadline of their thesis and the pressure to graduate on time, while simultaneously fulfilling their job duties. This often includes unexpected instructions from superiors and overtime work necessary to make ends meet and cover tuition fees. The delicate act of balancing these two demanding spheres frequently feels like walking a tightrope without a safety net.

"Free time" is a near-mythical concept for working students. Their days are fully consumed by work, and their nights, which should be for rest, are spent in front of laptops, poring over data and writing thesis chapters. Late-night overtime at the office frequently depletes their energy, leaving them too exhausted to even think about their thesis. This creates a recurring dilemma: guilt over neglecting the thesis versus the physical and mental exhaustion demanding sleep.

Financial comfort can also become a trap. Once students start earning their own income, the motivation to finish their thesis can wane, with thoughts like, "I can already earn money, why rush to graduate?" This procrastination, however, only prolongs semester fees and accumulates future anxiety. Graduating on time amidst constant overtime is challenging but not impossible. Strategies include setting realistic micro-goals, like writing just two paragraphs or finding three journal references per night, and utilizing small pockets of time during work breaks or commutes for academic reading or jotting down ideas.

Transparent communication with supervisors about their situation is crucial, as most will appreciate honesty over disappearing without a word. If possible, students should also communicate their overtime limitations to their employers as deadlines approach, prioritizing their physical health to avoid burnout. Juggling the dual roles of employee and thesis warrior demonstrates remarkable resilience. While exhausting, every line typed late at night is an investment in a better future.