Paying My Tuition Came at a Cost

I stood completely frozen when I took out my phone that day. I knew that whatever I was about to read was going to ruin my night shift.

“While the decision was close, very close, we have decided that Kevin will become the next E.I.C for the school paper. I am so, so sorry Nicholas.”

My heart ached when clocking in for work. Self-doubt and loathing were all that filled my throbbing head when working in my area. 

That’s when it hit me: the job. It kept me from focusing on school. It kept me from keeping my position. Was it even worth keeping it when I had lost everything I worked for? 

Up until that point, my journalism career was solely online as the COVID-19 pandemic had everyone in the palm of its hand. 

Trapped within the four walls of my bedroom, working on nothing but college homework assignments and newspaper articles, I began to spiral into obsessive episodes of doing nothing but homework my whole 2021 spring semester. 

Being the main form of work attire, Nicholas’s vest is always waiting for his next shift. Photo by Nicholas Broadhead.

After months of living in this vicious cycle, my mind and body had enough and wanted to become a part-time student. 

After being elected editor-in-chief of my college paper at the beginning of summer, it was the perfect time to lighten my class load and focus on what I wanted to do. 

After much bickering and explaining to my parents, like always, my parents would only support my decision if I found a job. 

Much to my dismay and anxiety of catching COVID-19, I accepted the deal.

Target ended up being the job for me, as it was the only company that responded back to me the same day as my online interview. 

I tried looking on the bright side. It was going to be my first job and the first time that I earned my own money.  

Once situated in the fall, my days were filled with running an award-winning college newspaper in the morning, to learning how to check out customers at the register at night.

Not everything was perfect when it came to running the paper. 

There would be times when I would have to rely on my team to edit and publish stories when I was at work, but I would always attend the online classes, update and lead the editorial meetings, and I would even continuously message reporters and editors while at work for updates on all things journalism. 

In my mind, I thought I had achieved a somewhat nice work and class balance.

A typical day in 2021 involved Nicholas waiting at home for the next Zoom meeting. Photo by Nicholas Broadhead.

I’m able to make $400 to $500 a week? Nice! An editor is editing that one story due tonight? Awesome! I’m ahead on some of the assignments for my newspaper class? Perfect! 

Things were going great until that message. 

Replaced. I was going to be replaced. All of my work was not good enough. 

All of this was happening because I had a job? That I didn’t dedicate 1000% of my energy to the publication?

That message from my professor made me want to run away from the class and from my major. 

Once the semester ended, I didn’t look back. I knew I wanted to distance myself from the publication, but where would I go until the spring time?

Target. Checklanes, drive-up delivery, returns and exchanges. I lived and breathed the retail environment, especially during the holiday season. 

The long check lane lines and parking lots filled with family SUVs filled my hours during those late winter months. But what I didn’t realize was that those hours would soon fill my pockets, too.

$1,200, $1,050, $1,100, the amounts continued every two weeks. This was more money than I had ever seen in my life. And it was all mine. I earned it with my own two hands. 

I had always been one to save money, whether it be during birthdays, holidays, or even special occasions such as high school graduation. 

I wouldn’t spend my money; my parents wouldn’t allow me.

Target store 1980 located in Redondo Beach. On Sept. 20, it will mark two years since Nicholas started working there and began his savings. Photo by Nicholas Broadhead.

But this was different. Every time I went to the bank, I continued to see the account grow and grow each month. 

The four-digit amounts on my checks from working 35-hour weeks filled me with so much pride and excitement.

It was so good that I continued saving even when I had to return to campus for the following semester. Becoming an editor again allowed me to have a slight majority of my week at Target, continuing my earning streak. 

That’s when it occurred to me. The rejection that sent me into Target’s arms was actually a blessing in disguise, especially when transferring to Long Beach State.

During that transitional summer, I thought it was going to be full of stressful financial planning when it came to The Beach’s tuition costs. 

But when I realized that I had to pay $3,400-$3,500 just for my tuition that upcoming fall semester, I found that I had close to $20,000 in the bank. 

Crazy enough, I would be able to afford the remaining three semesters without having to work at Target anymore. 

There was only one thing that was accurate about that thought: it was crazy. 

From this came the motivation to continue working and save even more money. 

With the addition of car insurance and parking permits, I knew I couldn’t stay stagnant when it came to my financial future. 

To this day I still work at Target, although not as much as I used to. Each time I walk into my store, I think about how satisfying it will be to see my bank account move up. 

My money is also under a watchful eye, as my parents have access to my account and spending habits. It’s these reasons, however, that make me want to continue making money.

A majority of team members prefer to have their pay directly deposited to their banks, but Nicholas prefers the sense of accomplishment that comes with having that envelope in hand. Photo by Nicholas Broadhead.

2021 was a stressful time. A new job, new school schedule and new responsibilities took the stage that is life, and at times, it felt as though I was falling off of it. 

Each setback made me question myself and my priorities.

But every time that check from human resources gets placed into my hand, it fills me with pride and joy. 

I no longer question who I am. I now question what kind of excitement I’m going to experience today.