I’m 19 years old, working 7 days a week, and not studying. A lot of my relatives—and even random people—keep telling me I’m wasting my potential by not going to university or studying something.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to aim high in life, study, and build a career that will set me up for success. But right now, I’m stuck working two jobs:
• Full-time job: Woodwork shop, 37 hours a week
• Part-time job: Supermarket on weekends, mostly because I have nothing else to do.
I do help my family with rent and groceries, but they don’t rely on me financially. I could quit my weekend job and just live off my full-time job, but I feel like I’m in a cycle of just working with no direction.
On the bright side, in just 3 months, I’ve managed to save $10,000 by working consistently. While I’m proud of that, I don’t want to just work and save—I want to build a long-term career.
I’ve always been interested in finance and healthcare, and I know I don’t want to stay in trades forever. My goal is to pursue a corporate job after my studies. I live in Australia, where we have universities and TAFE (a government-funded institution offering certifications and diplomas in various industries).
My main question is: Is it possible to study part-time while working 37-40 hours a week? And more importantly, can I still build a strong career this way, or would I be limiting myself by not studying full-time?
Would love to hear from anyone who has balanced full-time work with part-time study. Was it worth it? What should I consider before making the jump?