The Balance of Working and Going to School

By Joey Lee III, WTI Foreman with Tremco / WTI.

It is possible to actively pursue a construction management degree with the RISE Scholarship program and find balance.

RoofersCoffeeShop recently interviewed Joey Lee, a Roofing Foreman with WTI - Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. a subsidiary of Tremco during the Tremco WTI RISE program Coffee Shop RLW – Read Listen Watch.  We have been sharing excerpts from that interview and want to continue down the road of the younger generation balancing a full-time job and going to school. 

Joey has been focused on not only a great career in roofing, working for WTI, but he is also actively pursuing his construction management degree through Akron University as part of the RISE (Roofing Individuals Succeed through Education) Scholarship program offered through Tremco / WTI.  Here are Joey’s thoughts on the challenge of work and school balance.

As far as working full-time and going to college, it's a bit of a challenge.  But if you can dedicate yourself and manage your time correctly, it is absolutely doable.  To help balancing time with your wife, or if you have kids, and school, you just have to find 30 minutes a day plus some time on the weekends to make it work.  In most cases this will allow you to take one or two classes in a semester and meet your deadlines.

The other thing is working for a company that is supportive, and within WTI, they're extremely supportive of my education.  I am part of the RISE program so if I need more time for school, they are great with that.  I just say, "Hey, I might need a couple hours on Friday. I got a paper due,” and they are willing to say yes.  The company knows how important it is that they support the next generation of construction management professionals.  We all understand what they're trying to build as far as company culture and what a large role we will play in the future of the company or industry as a whole.

It takes dedication.  I wake up really early on a daily basis, anywhere between four and five. Anybody in roofing probably knows you wake up a little early.  I try and dedicate 30 to 45 minutes a day for school, which allows me to accomplish what’s needed to take two to three classes per semester.  If possible, I will try to get my schoolwork done for the day before my wife gets home, that way I'm not losing time with my family, and at the same time, I’m accomplishing my goals on what I need to get done for school.

On a Saturday and Sunday, I will sit down and write a 2,000-word essay or 1,000-word essay, anywhere from five to seven hours, or I’ll split it up over the two days. It's definitely feasible to keep your work life and your family life and your school life separated but also getting everything done and keeping everybody happy. At the end of the day, it's really making your education a priority and getting yourself where you want to be in your life.

You're looking at a short time period that you're actually in school and by making a few sacrifices, you can be where you want to be.  With opportunities like RISE, you actually have more opportunity for family time in the future by getting through the program and dedicating yourself to your career.

To hear the entire RISE RLW interview, visit RoofersCoffeeShop RLW – Read Listen Watch.