Education's True Value

Benjamin Franklin once remarked that "genius without education is like silver in the mine." In this quote, Franklin explains that natural intelligence is nothing without a fundamental basis in educational training.

Franklin's tradition of education has continued over 250 years later here at Penn, where students of all backgrounds, races and incomes join together in West Philadelphia in hopes of graduating with a prestigious Ivy League degree.

Yet, for some Penn students, education is not just going to class each day or studying in the library. Instead, education for such students is finding a way to pay for college by working job after job in hope of personally funding their $30,716 per-year Penn careers -- add $8,918 if students live in on-campus housing.

According to Student Employment Office Manager John Rudolph, approximately 3,000 work-study students are employed during the academic year and approximately 100 of those students have two work-study jobs.

While work-study jobs pay varying rates ranging from $8 to $12 or more per hour, the average hourly rate on campus is $8.68, according to Rudolph.

In addition, there is a smaller percentage of students who work multiple off-campus jobs and take out many loans to fund their four years at Penn.

Franklin may have considered these students especially dedicated to his concept of education, as they will not let their financial situation stop them from learning.

The daily grind

Wharton senior Julie Gremillion hears the sounds of dripping coffee and cash registers opening and closing in her sleep. She's the manager of Harrison College House's Cafe Prima, a job that occupies the majority of her time but fails to fill her wallet.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Julie was a part of the gifted student program at her high school. She studied hard, and was taught the importance of education from her mother, a schoolteacher.

The divorce of her parents, however, complicated her plans for an Ivy League education.

"My dad wasn't going to pay for college," Julie says, "and the tuition was more than my mom's salary."

Yet this did not stop Julie from applying to and accepting admission at the Wharton School, despite receiving no financial aid from the University.

Now, she is working her way through college and discovering that "paying for my education has made it more valuable."

After having difficulty finding an on-campus, non-work-study job, she was given the chance to work in Harrison's student-run coffee shop by House Dean Frank Pellicone.

"I built Cafe Prima from a dump into something profitable," Julie says. "I work about 40 hours a week managing the cafe, although I'm only paid for 20 hours. This place wouldn't run the way it runs without me."

As of last year, Julie became the cafe manager, which places her in charge of hiring and firing employees, coordinating working schedules, deciding upon prices and ordering items from suppliers.

"I'm on call 24 hours a day," she explains, adding that she believes it's worth the effort, as she hopes to be able to open her own business one day.

With such a demanding work schedule, Julie finds managing the cafe to be frustrating at times.

"Sometimes, it is the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's so rewarding for me to see the cafe doing well and see people appreciating my efforts," she says.

Despite the long hours she dedicates to managing the cafe, last year Julie realized that the income from her one job was not enough.

In the spring of 2003, Julie applied to be a resident adviser in Harrison. Although RAs are not paid for their services, Julie is able to live on campus for free and eat in the dining halls with a discounted meal plan.

Julie says she loves being an RA. "I work with a lot of great people and have a network of friends in the house to hang out with or rely on when I'm in a bind."

In addition, Julie is the editor in chief at First Call, an undergraduate opinion publication, which takes up another 10 to 15 hours of her time a week.

When Julie is not running the cash register at Cafe Prima, editing First Call or advising underclassmen who live in her hallway, she spends her time being a student -- her primary role at Penn.

"I'm in Wharton, I'm graduating with a degree. That's all that's important," she says.

Julie is pursuing a real estate concentration in Wharton and a minor in English in the College.

Still, at times, the pressure is overwhelming, and Julie is reassured to know that she always has two close friends to call when times get rough.

'I love my jobs'

Born in the Bronx, raised in the Dominican Republic and Miami, and now a student at Penn, College freshman Huascar Canaan is struggling with the combination of classwork and two work-study jobs.

Penn was one of many universities Huascar applied to during his senior year of high school, and while he was accepted by multiple institutions, he chose Penn for "the admissions staff and the financial aid package. They were willing to work with me."

Multiple loans and two jobs later, Huascar is working to make his education a reality.

His parents are divorced -- his mother works as an aid for a disabled child in the Miami school district, and his father has continued to live in the Dominican Republic.

"Ever since I was a little kid, I asked, 'Why?' I always wanted to go deeper. I can't help wanting to know more," he says.

In August, Huascar applied for four work-study jobs.

He was accepted by three, but due to time constraints and the limit of two work-study jobs per Penn student, Huascar chose to work as an administrative assistant in the Political Science Department and as a box office ticket seller at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

For the Political Science Department, Huascar says he does "photocopying, deliveries and clerical stuff."

When he isn't given a specific task, he tends to find himself organizing the desks of professors in the department.

"I can't help it. I'm neat," Huascar says, laughing. "Sometimes I even restock the coffee flavors."

In total, he spends about seven hours with the Political Science Department and eight to 10 hours at Annenberg each week.

"I love my jobs," he says. "I am considering ... majoring in political science, so I like [working in that department]. I also like the setting of the Annenberg ticket booth ... and [working] with the people there."

Having two jobs has taught Huascar to schedule his time much more effectively. When he does have a chance to rest, however, he is happy to take it.

"I'll never turn down a good chance to sleep," he says, adding that afternoon naps are essential to making it through the day.

And Huascar spends his Friday and Sunday nights catching up on his television viewing. He describes himself as a "TV junkie" who never misses an episode of Star Trek, Charmed, Andromeda or reruns of Law and Order.

Balancing work with school can be difficult, Huascar says, but he has never been upset with his family for being unable to pay for his college tuition.

"There has never been a day in my life," he says, "that I'm not thankful for my mom. She always encouraged higher education for me, even though she couldn't pay."

'The survival technique is humor'

College of General Studies student Christina Gravatt often finds herself waking up in the middle of the night, anxious about the coming day.

"I realize that I do burn the midnight oil at about 2 to 3 a.m. I wake up and if I feel somewhat awake, then I open up a book and read. I put myself to sleep every night the same way ... reading for school. It's a great sleep-inducing pill."

Tina -- as she likes to be called -- is 57 years old, has two daughters, has worked in nine countries and 39 states and, for the past four years, has managed to maintain a 3.91 GPA in CGS.

She has been awarded a scholarship from the University that allows her to take two courses per semester for free; however, she still needs to work numerous jobs just to pay tuition for her two other classes.

Currently, Tina works one work-study job and three other part-time jobs. On campus, she works at the Institute for Environmental Studies, where she assists with research, seminar planning and program development.

"My work-study income is $12 an hour, one of the highest rates that's offered. Most students in this department get $8 to $10 an hour," Tina explains.

It's not just the pay that makes Tina like her job at IES. She notes that when she goes to IES, she is "enamored because of the great group of people. ... It's like going home to family."

When she's not working at the IES, Tina can be found in one of three places. She is a local Girl Scout coordinator and spends approximately four hours a week helping organize activities for her troop.

She also babysits three to five hours a week for the son of one of her former bosses. Tina says this is one of her favorite jobs.

"I babysit for a little boy named Max. He's a little over 1 years old. He's adorable," she says, smiling.

Tina's fourth job is the most unique of all. She travels around the country lecturing on quiltmaking and quilt history.

Tina's interest in quilts was sparked several years ago after her two daughters moved out of their house in New Jersey. She packed her bags and went to Philadelphia in search of new opportunities. She has been making these "works of art," as she describes her quilts, for 15 years now.

"My favorite jobs are teaching, lecturing and exhibiting my quilts," Tina says. "I get to interact with many different people of all age groups and economic levels."

In the upcoming semester, Tina will also become a teaching assistant for the Environmental Studies Department. At this point, she will be working five jobs to pay for her college education -- each class she takes deducts $1,153 from her bank account.

With so many jobs and a hefty course load, Tina finds herself constantly juggling her work and studies.

"I don't have a magic answer to balancing my time," she says. "It's hard, [and] at times you're going to be depressed, but then my recommendation is to call a friend and say you're paralyzed. They'll help you."

When a kind ear just won't cut it, however, "popcorn, chocolate and Coke are pretty good companions on a Friday afternoon," Tina says.

It has been almost 40 years since Tina first set her sights on receiving a college diploma.

After one semester at Marietta College in Ohio, 18-year-old Tina fell in love and left school to "do the married thing."

After 10 years of marriage and two children, Tina and her husband separated. She was left with no money, no college education and no parental support.

She jokes, "Let's just say that the word credit card and I were best buddies."

Now Tina is fulfilling her goal of achieving a college education, excelling in her classes and finally experiencing the benefits of her hard work.

And along the way, Tina has learned some coping mechanisms.

"You have to look at [your life] with humor, no matter what age you are," Tina says. "The survival technique is humor," and with humor you can open any door.

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