For some Augustana students, the stress of finals only becomes exacerbated during the holiday season because in the midst of researching, writing and studying for exams, these students are also working jobs that come with their own set of stresses.
For students working in retail, it can seem as though every citizen in Sioux Falls chooses to spend time at the mall this time of year, especially in the last two or three weeks before Christmas.
"It's crazy right now," said junior Nicole Lauck, who works at American Eagle in the Empire Mall. "It's so stressful because of the sheer number of people who are shopping at this time of the year."
According to a recent article from The New York Times, more shoppers are visiting stores this holiday season, but they are spending less money than they have in past years. This year, consumers are spending more of their money on bargains and less on high-price items.
This is Lauck's first holiday season at American Eagle, but she is a seasoned retail worker. Lauck spent the holidays last year working at Sears, where she sold power tools.
"Retail is stressful, but it's nice because it's never slow or boring," she said.
Lauck works an average of eight hours per week at American Eagle, but she doesn't see that time as a hindrance to her studies or her preparation for finals.
"That's my time off campus where I don't have to work on tests or papers," she said. "I wouldn't say it's mindless work, but it takes a different set of skills than academic work."
Junior Kayla Hathaway has also been balancing her time between studying for finals and working at the mall. She works at Younkers in the Home department, where she answers customers' questions about bedding and small appliances.
Hathaway said that over the last few weeks, she has been feeling the effects of stress caused by working and trying to make it through finals at the same time. Right now, she works an average of 28 hours per week at Younkers, in addition to her full course load.
"It's been very difficult, but somehow I've been able to do it," Hathaway said. "I just don't sleep, and I don't see my friends and family as much as I would like."
Hathaway said one of the hardest parts of retail is working with customers.
"It's awful," Hathaway said. "It's just lots of angry people who think I'm out to get them, when I'm really just trying to find them the best deal. They don't understand that."
Both Hathaway and Lauck agree that working in retail becomes more stressful during the holiday season.
On Black Friday, Lauck said she and her other co-workers were at American Eagle until 12:30 a.m., three hours after the store had closed, stocking and reorganizing the entire store.
For Hathaway, the worst part is not staying late but arriving to work early. She said that most days, she comes into work at 5:30 a.m., even though the store doesn't open until 8 a.m.
Still, both students argue that having a job is not an option at this point.
"I can't imagine not having a job right now," Hathaway said. "I need to put myself through college and pay for rent."
For Lauck, the employee discounts don't hurt, either.
"The paycheck and the employee discounts are nice," she said. "Plus, I wouldn't have money to put gas in my car if I didn't have this job."
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