Emma Kessler, a sophomore studying chemistry, works three jobs in order to pay for school herself.
After her grandmother died of cancer, Emma Kessler became drawn toward research to help develop treatments or even a cure.
Kessler is now a sophomore studying chemistry with a focus on biochemistry in Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College. She plans on continuing her pursuit of research in graduate or medical school, which could result in thousands of dollars in student debt.
She grew up in Avon, Ohio, as the oldest child in a family of eight, with one income.
“My mom stays home and teaches (my siblings); her full-time job is taking care of them,” she said. “We have one income for eight people.”
Though her family isn’t struggling financially, she said it would still be difficult for her parents to help her pay for college.
“We do just fine, but there’s no extra money to throw thousands of dollars at college,” Kessler said. “I think even if my parents could contribute they would have me pay for a part of it, too. Because if I want to be an adult, I need to act like an adult and take on responsibilities and pay for some of my own things.”
Though Kessler has a full-tuition scholarship, she still has around $5,500 in loans to cover room and board and has to pay close to that out-of-pocket each year. She currently has around $12,000 in student debt and expects to graduate with about $24,000 in debt.
She works around 15 hours per week as a research assistant at the Edison Biotechnology Institute, a Peer-Led Team Learning leader for chemistry, and a private tutor to afford these expenses. She also worked last summer as a waitress and said she could only take on an internship this summer if it was paid.
“I work right now, and I’ll keep working through school,” Kessler said. “I’ll try to keep doing that, putting as much money as I can (toward school) instead of increasing my loans.”
Shin Hee Lee, a scientist in the Edison Biotechnology Institute, said that she knows Kessler is paying for school on her own and has other students doing the same.
“It’s kind of motivation and sometimes it encourages her research interests,” Lee said. “She works every afternoon for three or four hours a day and, sometimes, even on the weekend she comes in.”
In order to balance work and school, she said she has to take advantage of breaks and use her time wisely.
“It’s hard,” Kessler said. “I start most of my days either at work or class at 7:30 a.m., and I end up home at 5 p.m. or so, and then I sometimes have evening activities.”
She’s also a member of OU’s Alpha Chi Sigma chapter, Spanish club and College Republicans. She also serves as the new president of the Second Amendment Club.
Kessler said that one of her main problems has been knowing that she has loans to pay back once she graduates. [T1]
“I don’t like having that money I know I have to pay back,” she said. “I wish I could just pay it myself now. I don’t want to worry about interest or defaulting on loans.”
Though Kessler said it can be difficult sometimes to pay for school herself, she takes pride in it.
“Nobody can tell me, ‘Oh your parents are paying for you, and that’s why you’re here,’ because no, I’m supporting myself, and that’s why I’m here,” Kessler said. “I like that I can say that I’m doing this on my own.”
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