• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The College Investor

Student Loans, Investing, Building Wealth

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Save For College
      • How To Start

      • How To Save For College
      • How To Pay For College
      • What Is the Average Cost of College?
      • What Is A 529 Plan and Where to Open One in Your State
      • How Much Should You Have In A 529 Plan By Age
      • How To Use A 529 Plan For Private Elementary And High School
      • What Are Qualified Expenses For A 529 Plan (And What Doesn’t Count)?
      • The Best Brokers To Open A 529 Plan
      • Tools + Accounts

      • 529 Plans: The Ultimate College Savings Plan
      • 529 Plan Contribution Limits
      • Prepaid Tuition Plans | What To Know
      • Understanding And Using 529A ABLE Accounts
      • Using A Roth IRA To Save And Pay For College
      • FAFSA Deadlines for Financial Aid
      • CollegeBacker Review
      • Upromise Review
      • UNest Review
      • Other Options

      • Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs By State
      • The Guide To Military And VA Education Benefits
      • How To Fill Out The FAFSA
      • How To Find College Scholarships
      • The Best College Scholarship Search Websites
      • How To Find Grants To Pay For College
      • Pell Grants: What They Are And How To Qualify
      • Understanding Federal Work-Study
      • How To Use A 529 Plan If Your Child Doesn’t Go To College
  • Student Loans
      • Borrowing

        • How Student Loans Work
        • How To Apply For A Student Loan
        • How To Find The Best Student Loans And Rates
        • Best Private Student Loans Of June 2022
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Graduate School
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Medical School
        • Parent Loans To Pay For College
        • No-Cosigner Student Loan Options
        • Guide To Income Sharing Agreements (ISAs)
        • Best International Student Loans
      • Get Out Of Debt

        • Best Places To Refinance Student Loans In June 2022
        • Best Student Loan Repayment Plans
        • Best Student Loan Refinancing Bonuses And Promotional Offers
        • Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (The Complete List)
        • The Full List Of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs By State
        • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
        • Top Student Loan Scams
        • Average Student Loan Monthly Payment
        • Average Student Loan Debt By Year
      • Reviews

        • Credible Review
        • Splash Review
        • Ascent Review
        • Citizens Bank Review
        • Commonbond Review
        • Earnest Review
        • ELFI Review
        • Laurel Road Review
        • LendKey Review
        • SoFi Review
  • Investing
      • How To Start

        • How To Start Investing in High School
        • How To Start Investing In College
        • How To Start Investing In Your Twenties For 22 – 29 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing In Your 30s For 30 – 39 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing With $100 Or Less
        • How To Give Kids The Gift Of Stock
        • What Is Dividend Growth Investing
        • IRA Rollover Chart
      • Tools + Accounts

        • Best Online Stock Brokers
        • The Best Traditional And Roth IRA Accounts
        • The Best Robo-Advisors
        • The Best Investing Apps
        • The Best Places to Trade Options
        • The Best Places To Open A Health Savings Account
        • The Best Solo 401k Providers
        • The Best Self-Directed IRA Providers Of 2022
        • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges
      • Reviews

        • Vanguard Review
        • Fidelity Review 2022: Still One Of The Best Online Brokers
        • M1 Finance Review
        • TD Ameritrade Review
        • Charles Schwab Review
        • Robinhood Review
        • Webull Review
        • Betterment Review
        • Wealthfront Review
  • Earn More Money
      • Extra Income

        • 15 Best Side Hustles You Can Start Earning With In 2022
        • 53 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money
        • 100 Ways To Make Money In College
        • 80 Ways To Make Money From Home (In Your Pajamas)
        • 5 Quick Money Making Ideas (That Take Less Than 1 Hour)
        • 10 Interesting Ways You Can Make Money Driving
        • High-Paying Side Gigs That Earn $1,000 or More Per Month
        • The 10 Best Money-Making Apps
        • Paid Surveys: Earn Money For Giving Your Opinion Online
        • 10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of
      • Build Wealth

        • 35 Passive Income Ideas You Can Use To Build Wealth In 2022
        • 3 Ways To Make $50,000 Per Year Without Working With Passive Income
        • How To Become A Real Estate Investor With Just $500
        • 15 Best Online Business Ideas
        • How to Create Streams of Passive Income on a Limited Budget
        • Residual Income: 7 Super Smart Ways to Build It
        • The Most Common Multiple Income Streams
        • How To Become A Real Estate Mogul With Only $10,000
      • Reviews

        • Fundrise Review
        • RealtyMogul Review
        • FarmTogether Review
        • AcreTrader Review
        • Swagbucks Review
        • Survey Junkie Review
        • TopCashback Review
        • DoorDash Review
  • Personal Finance
      • Banking

        • Best High Yield Savings Accounts Of June 2022
        • 10 Best Money Market Accounts Of June 2022
        • 10 Best Free Checking Accounts In June 2022
        • The Best Bank CD Rates Of June 2022
        • 10 Best Business Checking Accounts In June 2022
        • The Best Online Banks Of June 2022
        • 5 Best Credit Unions Nationwide Of June 2022
        • Best College Student Checking Accounts In June 2022
      • Insurance

        • Best Life Insurance Companies
        • Renters Insurance
        • Car Insurance
        • Pet Insurance
        • Umbrella Insurance
        • Disability Insurance
        • Tuition Insurance
        • Travel Insurance
      • Credit Tools

        • Best Budgeting Apps
        • Cash Advance Apps
        • How To Get A Free Credit Score Report
        • The Best Credit Monitoring Services
        • Debt Settlement: Inside The Secret World
        • Credit Repair Explained: Should You Pay For Help?
        • Best Personal Loan Companies And Lenders
        • Online Loan Companies To Borrow From Home
      • Tax

        • Best Tax Software
        • Free Tax Software
        • IRS Tax Refund Calendar
        • Common IRS Questions and Errors
        • Federal Tax Brackets
        • Capital Gains Tax Brackets
        • 401k Contribution Limits
        • IRA Contribution Limits
        • HSA Contribution Limits
  • Forum
  • Search
Home » Student Life » Scholarship » How My Side Hustles Showed Me My Passions

How My Side Hustles Showed Me My Passions

Updated: April 4, 2021 By Guest Blogger

Tweet
Share176
Share
Pin1
Email

At The College Investor, we want to help you navigate your finances. To do this, many or all of the products featured here may be from our partners. This doesn’t influence our evaluations or reviews. Our opinions are our own. Learn more here.Advertiser Disclosure

There are thousands of financial products and services out there, and we believe in helping you understand which is best for you, how it works, and will it actually help you achieve your financial goals. We're proud of our content and guidance, and the information we provide is objective, independent, and free.

But we do have to make money to pay our team and keep this website running! Our partners compensate us. TheCollegeInvestor.com has an advertising relationship with some or all of the offers included on this page, which may impact how, where, and in what order products and services may appear. The College Investor does not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace. And our partners can never pay us to guarantee favorable reviews (or even pay for a review of their product to begin with).

For more information and a complete list of our advertising partners, please check out our full Advertising Disclosure. TheCollegeInvestor.com strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The information in our reviews could be different from what you find when visiting a financial institution, service provider or a specific product's website. All products and services are presented without warranty.

Zoe Shook

My employment journey began at the pool. I was 12 years old on my middle school swim team and my coaches had recently had their first child together, John. They brought him to every practice while they coached so that they wouldn't have to leave him at home with a sitter.

I was smitten by the little guy and I soon noticed that it was becoming harder for them to coach as he became more mobile. I saw my chance to not only spend time with this adorable toddler but to start earning some income as well.

My coaches agreed to let me start watching him while they worked, so I began watching him every day after my practice for over 2 hours a day. I’d never babysat before and I learned very quickly that it was fun, but exhausting. I watched him in a separate room by myself so I had to learn how to play, distract, redirect, feed, and change an active toddler.

I was paid $5 an hour and I was hooked. I saved up for tickets to movies and clothes, and it felt nice to be able to buy things for myself. I worked all through 8th grade until my coaches eventually found a full time sitter. 

Drowning in Babysitting

The summer after 8th grade I had my first summer job babysitting for the Lakes, 3 kids and a dog. Almost every day while the parents went to work, I would help them with summer work, take them to the park, organize little activities to keep them entertained, and make them both lunch and dinner.

This was the job that helped me realize I loved working with kids. I also babysat for a few other families occasionally, but the Lakes were my most consistent customers. I took babysitting very seriously. Everytime I started working with a new family I would give them references as well as a printed resume to show that I was responsible and a good fit for them.

I also got infant and child CPR certified and learned how to cook some basic meals so that I could always make something for my kids if they were hungry. As a babysitter I not only played with the kids and put them to bed, but I prided myself in being able to cook and clean as well. I wanted my families to be confident in me and my abilities, and feel safe leaving me at home with their children. 

Guarding Lives

The following summer I got a job as a lifeguard at Thornton Park Pool. I was a lifeguard and swim instructor. The pool was a bit of a hike from my house, so every day I had to ride my bike (all the way uphill) to get to the pool on time. I had to monitor patrons, enforce pool rules, and teach summer camp swim lessons to kids aged 5-9. From this job on I was hooked.

I loved having something to do with my time and I loved being able to have an income that I could do whatever I wanted with. From that year on, I have had a job every summer, and I also started finding more ways to earn money during the school year as well. 

Using What I Know

I have been playing the cello since 4th grade, so I have a lot of experience both in an orchestra and also working with my own tutor. I began teaching middle school students basic skills such as how to hold a bow, how to play basic scales, etc.

I taught some of my more advanced students different songs using suzuki books, and also worked with a student for months on a song for him to perform at his Bar Mitzvah. My job as a cello tutor taught me how to create a schedule as well as work with other families to decide what is best for their children. 

Finding Myself

The summer after my job at Thorton, I was finally old enough to apply to work at my city pool, Beachwood Family Aquatic Center. This has become my favorite summer job that I have ever had. I finally got to work with kids I knew from my school. We messed around almost as much as we actually worked.

We had “guardies” (guard parties) and potlucks and celebrated every guards’ summer birthday with cake and popsicles. We taught camp swim lessons, and guarded patrons during pool hours. Because of my previous work experience at Thorton I was able to help create lesson plans for swim lessons as well as help my fellow guards learn how to teach.

The friends that I made that summer are friends that I continued to have during the school year as well. I am hoping to work there again this summer but considering how competitive of a job it is, I am still waiting to hear back on my application. 

Creating Opportunity

As a varsity swimmer, I spend almost all my time at the high school pool during the school year. This is how I came to learn that my high school offers swim lessons to kids in the community. I jumped at an opportunity to work with kids and also make a little money on the side, so I talked to the manager (who is also my swim coach), set up an interview, and got the job.

I love working with kids. I teach not only private but group lessons as well. My newest project has been toddler swim. My manager and swim coach, Brad, asked me to put together a program for parents and their toddlers. I had to build a curriculum from scratch that would make both the parents and kids feel comfortable in the water, all while having a good time as well.

It was very awkward at first having to talk to the parents in the freezing cold water all while dealing with screeching toddlers, but it has grown into my favorite part of my job. I love getting to talk to my families and their kids and I have formed special bonds with all of them. 

Again while working at the pool, another opportunity arose when I noticed a new swim program being hosted. Rec2Connect is a swim program for mentally disabled kids that allows them to work on training in the water. They began working at the high school during practice and I talked to the director, Dan, because I was interested in helping out. I now make sets for their swim team as well as helping with teaching them proper technique. Even though this is not a paying position this side hustle helped teach me patience and further proved that working with people is something I not only enjoy but excel at. 

Conclusion

Soon I was making enough money that I had to open my own checking account. I had to learn how to maintain a bank account, transfer money into savings, and how to write/ submit checks to the bank. I started saving money for college, putting away money to spend on my friends and family for birthdays, etc. and I no longer have to ask anyone if I need or want to buy something. My jobs gave me the independence to take control of my income and spend/ save it however I want. 

My journey to employment has been very long, but very rewarding. From working with kids both in and out of the water, I have found these jobs to be incredibly important to me. They give me a routine and keep me from sitting on my couch all day. I love the feeling of having responsibility and going to a place that is my own. My side hustles have served me very well in teaching me how to stay productive, how to work with others, and most importantly, what my true passions are in life. 

Love this story? Share it on social media to vote! 

Check out the other finalists here: 2020 Side Hustlin’ Student Scholarship Results Page.

Guest Blogger

This post was written by a guest contributor. Please see their details in the post above. If you’d like to guest post for The College Investor, check out our Contact Us page for more details.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, or other advertiser and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comment Policy: We invite readers to respond with questions or comments. Comments may be held for moderation and are subject to approval. Comments are solely the opinions of their authors'. The responses in the comments below are not provided or commissioned by any advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. It is not anyone's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Subscribe
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Robert Farrington will teach you how to get out of student loan debt and how to start investing.

Hi! My Name is

America's Millennial Money Expert

Welcome to The College Investor. We're here to help you escape student loan debt so you can start investing and building wealth for the future

Our expert guides, reviews, and more are designed to help you achieve your financial goals.

Want to learn more? See what's in my wallet.

As Featured In

Social Media

Popular Posts

Side Hustling

53 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money

Best Side Hustles

15 Best Side Hustles You Can Start Earning With In 2022

Make Money From Home

80 Ways To Make Money From Home (In Your Pajamas)

Crazy Ways To Make $10,000

10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of

Make $50,000 Per Year

3 Ways To Make $50,000 Per Year Without Working With Passive Income

Student Loan Scams

Top Student Loan Scams

Net Worth of Millennials

Average Net Worth Of Millennials By Age

Ways To Get Student Loan Forgiveness

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (The Complete List)

Passive Income Ideas

35 Passive Income Ideas You Can Use To Build Wealth In 2022

529 Plan By Age

How Much Should You Have In A 529 Plan By Age

Ultimate Guides

529 Plan Guide

529 Plans: The Ultimate Guide To College Savings Plans

Student Loans and Financial Aid By State

Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs By State

Student Loan Advice

The Definitive Guide To Student Loan Debt: Everything To Know About Your Loans

Student Loan Forgiveness By State

The Full List Of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs By State

newretirement

How to Start Saving Now: The College Graduate’s Guide to Saving for Retirement

Latest Research

Institutional Merit Grants

Who Gets Institutional Merit Grants At Private Colleges?

Resume Student Loan Payments

Survey: Even With Higher Expenses, Most Student Loan Borrowers Are Ready To Resume Payments

Support From Parents Survey

64% Of Millennials Receive Support From Their Parents

undermatching at selective colleges

Undermatching: Why Do Smart Low-Income Students Not Enroll In Selective Colleges?

How Much Americans Pay To File Their Taxes

How Much Americans Pay To File Their Taxes

Footer

Who We Are

The College Investor is an independent, advertising-supported publisher of financial content, including news, product reviews, and comparisons.

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Press & Media

About

  • About
  • Our Team
  • Podcast
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • How We Make Money
  • Archives

Social

Copyright © 2022 · The College Investor · Privacy Policy ·Terms of Service · DO NOT Sell My Personal Information

wpDiscuz