Phenomenon of Sandwich Generation Among Students

CampusNet – Being in a college is one of the prestigious moments where anyone can’t afford, except if you attend it with a scholarship. As a student, you should excel your academic records, manage finances for living expenses, tuition fees, etc and have a good adaptability skill in every society that you’re involved in.

However, if your family’s financial condition is worsening, you should do part-time or freelance jobs, such as a waiter or waitress, content creator, content writer, etc. At some point, this circumstance occurs to the students. What should we call this situation? The answer is sandwich generation.

What is sandwich generation?

Sandwich generation is a condition where someone should care for their family financially, such as living costs, house, vehicle, marriage and career. Not only expenses, but also someone should pay off their family’s debts. Furthermore, they continue to get more money for the following month.

What are their challenges to be a sandwich generation?

Being a college student in the sandwich generation has multiple challenges that cannot be avoided as described below.

1. Financial strain

College students may face the burden of supporting their families financially, which is potential to break their focus between studying and working at the same time.

2. Time constraints

Balancing college assignments, work and caregiving (for students who live with their parents) give rise to time management difficulties, stress and maintaining health.

3. Emotional and psychological strain

If they are taking care of their parents and children while completing college assignments and making money, student’s emotional well-being and mental health might be negatively affected, which will damage their academic performance.

4. Social isolation

The time for socializing with other people such as college peers will decrease extensively as a result from the intensity of caregiving.

5. Family conflict

As they are maintaining the time to make more money and how often they meet their parents, there are problems that arise which do not match their expectations and their initial agreements.

Strategies to balance the college life

Being a sandwich generation in college life may have a lot of difficulties, risks, and affect their emotional well-being. As the proverb says “every cloud has a silver lining”, there is one thing that comes from life lessons, “strategy”. Here’s what you should do while you are still in this situation.

1. Seeking support

As a college student, you will need resources from your campus, such as psychological counseling service, community that supports you unconditionally, academic advisor to face the challenge and build a support system.

2. Determine the priority scale

Not only time management strategies, but also to handpick more activities which could support you financially would also be a better option. You could take a break for a moment if the intensity of balancing study and work rises. However, you should continue your balanced life.

3. Seeking financial assistance

While making more money in your college life, you should browse more information about financial aid, scholarships and work-study programs to reduce financial pressures.

4. Develop communicating needs

You might focus on making more money for a living for you and your family. However, you should ask more about their daily needs in order to calculate how much money that your family needs. Hence, you could hire someone to take over your caregiving responsibilities.

5. Don’t forget to care for yourself

Work and study are important. However, self-care is also important in order to maintain your good looking appearance for both occasions. The activities are exercise, relaxation techniques, hairdressing, having a quality time with your loved ones and decent skin care and make up for your face.

Thus, the sandwich generation phenomenon which shows up in someone’s college life has both positive and negative impact. You could stand on your own feet for your family. However, you should know your limits and handle more consequences that will come in the future.

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