At the beginning of first semester, I was focused on applying to jobs. I know that college incurs a large amount of costs, so I was hoping to make an income. I had been working all summer, but I was hoping to not drain my bank account too much with my first round of textbooks and other supplies.

For one reason or another, none of the jobs I looked at panned out, and at first I felt resigned and disappointed. I knew that as a first-year I may not be lucky with jobs right off the bat, but I was happy that I at least tried and got my name out into the world a bit, even if I didn’t get any jobs at the time. I decided that maybe second semester would be a better time anyway: I would have time to adjust to a college workload and see what clubs and activities I liked.

This being so, I began with club activities. I decided to join the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Team after the first few weeks of my International Dance Standard class at Pomona (the first time I had ever ballroom danced). I also signed up for La Semeuse (yearbook) as a section editor because I enjoyed being part of the yearbook committee in middle school and high school. I joined BOSS (Board of Student Stakeholders) at Honnold Mudd Library and applied to be a blogger for Scripps CP&R. And to dabble in the familiar (editing) and unfamiliar (school newspaper), I went to The Student Life informational meeting and applied to be a copy editor.

Upon beginning those three clubs and enjoying the community they provided, I forgot all about my jobless woes. I had so much fun with each activity, and I’ve stuck with all of them into this semester.

I need not have worried so much about earning money my first semester, because some things happen unexpectedly. Sometimes you earn some by selling things on the 5Cs For Sale For Free Facebook page or by taking part in research for a Psych department. I was happy to find out that editor positions at the yearbook earn a stipend. This semester, I joined Senior Staff at TSL as Copy Chief because I loved the work and the people. I found out at a meeting the other day that it’s a paid position. Who knows how much it pays, but for me that’s not what matters.

Sometimes things that you enjoy will naturally yield themselves to compensation, whether or not you look for it. I know jobs are in high demand at the 5Cs, but sometimes one just has to stop looking and find something they enjoy, and sometimes you’ll find a job there.

If you’re able to secure an unpaid role and can build your resume but not your bank account, stop to consider how you feel about it. I’m not one to do something just because it looks good or for the pay, so I’m happy that some of these activities have come to me organically. If you’re worried, try to be patient, keep investing your time in fields that interest you, and it may just pay off in the end. And remember, CP&R is there to help.