BartWillis
New member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2026
- Messages
- 7
I don't really post on forums usually but I'm at a breaking point and I need to hear from people who get it. 
I'm a junior at UH, majoring in computer science. I'm also the oldest son in a family where my parents work minimum wage jobs and my dad has health issues. I've been working since I was 16, always sent money home. When I moved to Houston for school, I thought I could handle it - work part-time, study hard, make it work. That's what we do, right?
But Houston is EXPENSIVE. Even with financial aid and some scholarships, I'm struggling. I work at a warehouse near the Energy Corridor, 25-30 hours a week, overnight shifts. I get off at 6 AM, rush home, shower, and try to make it to my 9 AM class. By 2 PM I'm falling asleep at my desk. My grades are slipping. I got a C+ in a CS class last semester and I wanted to cry.
The warehouse pays $17/hour which is good for no degree, but it's physically destroying me and I have zero time for internships or networking which I KNOW I need for tech jobs after graduation. It's like I'm working just to stay afloat but I'm sinking anyway.
I need a job that actually works WITH students, not against them. Something on campus maybe? Or something related to tech where I can build skills while earning money? I'm good with computers, I troubleshoot for my whole family, but I don't have a degree yet so I can't get the "real" IT jobs.
Has anyone found a good balance in Houston? Companies that are flexible? Remote work that actually pays? I'm open to anything at this point. I just want to stop choosing between sleep and money.
If you know any Houston-specific resources or job boards for students, please share. I'm trying to keep my head above water here.
I'm a junior at UH, majoring in computer science. I'm also the oldest son in a family where my parents work minimum wage jobs and my dad has health issues. I've been working since I was 16, always sent money home. When I moved to Houston for school, I thought I could handle it - work part-time, study hard, make it work. That's what we do, right?
But Houston is EXPENSIVE. Even with financial aid and some scholarships, I'm struggling. I work at a warehouse near the Energy Corridor, 25-30 hours a week, overnight shifts. I get off at 6 AM, rush home, shower, and try to make it to my 9 AM class. By 2 PM I'm falling asleep at my desk. My grades are slipping. I got a C+ in a CS class last semester and I wanted to cry.
The warehouse pays $17/hour which is good for no degree, but it's physically destroying me and I have zero time for internships or networking which I KNOW I need for tech jobs after graduation. It's like I'm working just to stay afloat but I'm sinking anyway.
I need a job that actually works WITH students, not against them. Something on campus maybe? Or something related to tech where I can build skills while earning money? I'm good with computers, I troubleshoot for my whole family, but I don't have a degree yet so I can't get the "real" IT jobs.
Has anyone found a good balance in Houston? Companies that are flexible? Remote work that actually pays? I'm open to anything at this point. I just want to stop choosing between sleep and money.
If you know any Houston-specific resources or job boards for students, please share. I'm trying to keep my head above water here.
