I’ll be the first to admit that studying and working at the same time is pretty much a degree in itself. In fact, I bet you can learn more from perfecting the balance between timetables and rosters than in an Intro to Business class.

In this day and age, more students are reducing their credit load to pick up work experience or committing to post-graduate study after they’ve kick started their careers. Here’s why we reckon that’s the best way to do it.

Money Please

Over the last five years post-graduate enrolment numbers have skyrocketed, despite a sharp increase in tuition fees. This year, Roy Morgan reported that over a quarter of 25-34 year olds (that’s over a million Aussies) intend to study or do a course in the next 12 months. Just over a majority (52.2 per cent) of Australians intending to study or do a course in the next 12 months are already employed.

It’s probably due to the fact that us avocado-eating millennials want to continue consuming brunch without draining our savings accounts. And for those of us who are going back into study, we need to upskill and stay relevant for the increasingly changing job market.

Carla says that pursuing part-time study is also the best way to “maintain career stability and keep career options open for the future”. She’s been studying and working concurrently for over three years. For her, cashing out on bottomless brunch, saving for a hefty house deposit and preparing for your future don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Sorting Out Your Priorities

But, if you think it’s just about making real money and learning real things, a natural consequence of all of this is that you discover who your real pals are too – the ones who are worth keeping.

Two and a bit years ago when I commenced my law degree, within six months half my mates dropped off the face of the Earth. The ones who stuck around are the friendships I’ve forged for life, even if it means catching up once every couple of months rather than painting the town red when the weekend rolls around.

With your priorities in order, you’re able to see the wood from the trees and make better decisions.

It’s No Easy Cake Walk – But It’s Worth It

There’s no denying that working and studying can be the conundrum from hell. That being said, it might just be one of the best things you ever do.

I can tell you that it’s a lot of pulling all-nighters, strolling into work over-caffeinated and jamming your diary with deadlines for the next six months. You do have a crystal ball – the type that tells you how stressed you’ll be when all your schedules collide.

But in the end, you graduate with black belt in stress management, time management and a good dose of resilience. All key attributes that are highly valued among employers.

So much more than another piece of paper to hang on the wall.

Jessica Marcellienus enjoys writing and feeding ducks at the park in her spare time. She also looks forward to completing a law degree while working full-time in the aviation sector. Check out more of her stories here.