December 3rd, 2009
No Thanks to GOD on Thanksgiving!!!
By: Larz Jeter
Read all posts by Larz
I choose to give thanks to God every day, Thanksgiving was one of those days I did that and more. Thanksgiving is a day of reflection on what we are thankful for. It seems many families experience thanksgiving with different traditions. So in the spirit of being diverse and embracing different traditions my friend Emil (BFF) and I set out on a journey to 7 different houses to shake hands, hug friends, and of course EAT!
Mark Urmson is a senior this year at CHC. On September 14th of this semester, Mark began working at the Piazza Perk (the coffee shop on CHC’s campus). Mark puts in about twelve hours a week, working with the cash register, making the beverages, and smelling the wonderful aroma of coffee! His reason for working is because he wanted to get experience doing something new. Mark enjoys working on-campus because there is very little commute (the Piazza Perk is located in the residence hall where Mark is an RA), and because he gets to see so many people he knows. Mark’s training for the job included: learning how to brew the coffee, how to make the cream ices, and how to close shop. When asked if it’s ever hard balancing work and school work, he explained, “So far, no. However, being my senior year, I feel it will get hectic. Good thing I work in a calm area”. Mark’s advice to incoming CHC freshmen who are looking for jobs? “Try to get a job as soon as possible; it gives great experience and shows versatility”. 
Kelly Kolson, another senior at CHC, works on-campus at the Foreign Language Resource Center. Kelly’s been working there since the spring semester of 2009. She works about four hours a week, tutoring CHC students and doing various other jobs. Kelly’s reason for working there is so that she has a little bit of spending money. She enjoys working on-campus because it’s convenient. She can “leave” for work five minutes before she has to be there, and still be on time. Kelly likes working at the FLRC because she gets to help students perform better in their classes. How did Kelly find out about this job? She went to the FLRC to ask if she could practice conversing in Spanish, and ended up asking to be a tutor. The requirements that Kelly needed in order to get this job were being able to explain, and teach, Spanish to students. Kelly’s advice to incoming freshman: “Make sure you don’t work more hours than you can balance with your school work”.
CHC junior, Lisa Kohler, just started working as a babysitter for a family who lives ten minutes away from the college. She works about six hours a week, picking up a five-year-old girl from school, feeding her, and helping her with homework. Lisa’s reason for working is because she loves children, and could use the extra cash. When asked why she enjoys working off-campus, she explained, “Sometimes it feels as though I am in a bubble and need to get off campus every other day to be in the real world”. Lisa loves her job because it’s easy, pays well, and she adores the family. Is it ever hard for Lisa to balance work and schoolwork? She said, “Yes, of course. But I am lucky enough where I can still do homework if I need to while I’m with the five-year-old”. Lisa’s advice to freshman: “If you need some extra money, look for a job after you get into a routine since adjusting takes a lot of time”. 
Chris Cordaro is a senior who works at the Chestnut Hill Grill, a popular restaurant located in the town of Chestnut Hill (2.3 miles down the road from the CHC campus). Chris has had this job for a year and three months. He works around forty hours a week, bartending and serving. Chris is working to pay for school (he likes financial security), and he loves what he does. I asked Chris why he likes working off-campus. He explained, “I work off-campus because it grants me more opportunities monetarily, and to develop interpersonal skills that are useful in any future career. I get to meet some very interesting people, and the fast pace is exhilarating”. Although Chris could easily drive his car to work, he prefers getting some exercise by walking there, or biking. He is very fond of working at the Chestnut Grill because of the great food, friendly co-workers, and the expansion of his mind. What advice does Chris have for students who are considering working? “Working and going to school can be a tough balance, but rewarding. Just remember that school should come first”.
