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College students want money. Just a few extra dollars to have a good time and to get away from the stress of classes. They are willing to go above and beyond to earn more cash needed for tuition, basic needs and activities.

This is where side hustles come into play. A side hustle is a great way to make some extra cash while also pursuing what you are most interested in.

Students may have schedules filled with classes, athletics and jobs, but for some students like Claudia Sloat, side hustles fill the space of free time. Sloat is a nursing student at GV. From taking 22 credits in one semester her freshman year to now handling 17 credits and other activities, she has never failed to stay busy.

When she is not attending classes, Sloat is a section leader for the choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Rehearsals last an hour and a half every Sunday, and they only increase during the holidays. She enjoys this job not only because she gets paid, but also because it is a way for her to relax and have a good time.

“It feels like therapy for me because most of the people in the choir are about 70 years or older, and I want to focus on Geriatrics,” Sloat said. Geriatrics is the branch of medicine or social science dealing with the health care of the elderly.

As if helping with the church choir doesn’t keep Sloat busy enough, she also has a work-study job at the GV library on weekends. She gets paid hourly to help students with computer-related issues and put books back in their proper places. Sloat struggles with finding time to make food and get a full night’s sleep.

“I like to be busy all the time,” Sloat said. “If not, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”

Instead of working with older folks like Sloat, Jaci Brungardt, GV student, helps children with disabilities through Respite Connection. Her job is to pick up kids at their homes and take them wherever they want to go. She believes it is rewarding having the one-on-one time with kids.

“I’ve had the same clients for multiple years, so I’ve gotten to know them and their families, which is nice,” Brungardt said.

Brungardt typically works with the same girl every Tuesday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. This allows her to easily fit the side hustle into her schedule. If something comes up, she can reschedule to meet with the kids another time.

Other students have their side hustles on top of participating in sports at GV. Sarah Sharairi is a pre-law and public administration major who is also on the women’s soccer team. Along with practices and games during the week, Sharairi, like Brungardt, is involved with respite care. When she is not playing in her own games on the weekends, she gets paid to coach 6 to 10-year-olds for the West Des Moines Soccer Club.

“It’s kind of a surprise every time I go to coach,” Sharairi said. “You don’t know what to expect since kids are kind of unpredictable. You have to handle all sorts of weird situations.” She enjoys giving children a head start on playing soccer.

Free time is also hard to come by for Sharairi. She relies on her planner to get her through each day.

“I write all of the things I need to get done, like meetings with professors, or when I have tests or projects due. Then any free time I have, I use it to do homework,” Sharairi said. She is very busy, but she knows it is worth it.

Side hustles help college students survive. Some students may believe that they don’t have time to pursue the extra cash, but these odd jobs can be done at any time. The extra cash can help cover tuition costs as well as basic needs and fun activities.