For Bucknell students, campus jobs are more than a means of earning extra money. Holding campus jobs provides students with unique opportunities to form relationships and acquire skills fundamental to their future careers. Across campus, from inside residence halls to behind library counters, student employees are essential to the successful operation of Bucknell.
Aditi Khatri ’27 has served as a Residential Advisor (RA) since Fall 2024, a position that many unfamiliar students often view strictly as “rules enforcement.” However, Khatri emphasizes that the true role of an RA is far beyond maintaining campus order–it is offering support to students as they navigate everyday campus life. “People think that being an RA is just doing room checks, writing people up and doing bulletin boards. But I’ve learned that being an RA, especially for first-year students, means being their support system, being there when they need advice or someone to talk to and being somebody they feel comfortable reaching out to whenever they have an issue,” Khatri explains. While hall events and late-night rounds are visible parts of being an RA, the position’s greatest impacts occur during private conversations and check-ins that allow students to remain connected.
Behind-the-scenes tasks are also vital to Natalia Kraiker’s ’27 position as an Astronomy Night Lab Teaching Assistant (TA), which she began in Spring 2025. While the lab’s attendees may view it as a brief observation session, Kraiker noted her extensive preparation. “About an hour before the lab’s expected start time, the selected head TA for that night has to poke their head outside to ensure that the weather is suitable for a sky tour and observation using telescopes. The labs themselves are only an hour long, but TAs have to arrive beforehand to set up lab equipment, lighting and the lab roof. Some of the telescopes have cameras, and those take lots of time to configure. We also have to spend time breaking down the labs after students leave.” Kraiker’s description conveys how students help make hands-on academic activities possible, even if this preparation occurs unknowingly.
Similarly, Chloe Benner ’27, who has worked as a Library Technology Desk Consultant since Fall 2025, described the mental demands of her job. While students using the Technology Desk often anticipate quick resolutions, Benner explains how the job requires extensive knowledge. “This job requires a lot of memorization, not just of the equipment, but for all technological support that any student or staff member may need.” Regardless of the task–from managing equipment loans to troubleshooting technology issues–Technology Desk Consultants must adapt quickly, indicating how student employees serve their campus community efficiently.
For Isabella Luzak ’28, who has worked as a CAP Center Spirit Ambassador since January 2026, her job centers around maintaining student engagement and Bucknell pride. “A typical shift often involves meeting with Brent Papson to discuss past events and improve future ones. We assist in planning and coordinating campus events that promote school spirit, such as hosting tabling [events], where students can spin a wheel to earn Bucknell-themed prizes.” Luzak adds, “One detail people may not notice about my job is that you get the behind-the-scenes on every fun event Brent Papson hosts. For instance, for this year’s ‘Mr. Beast’ hand on the Bison statue challenge, we got to create challenges to get contestants to remove their hands.” Luzak’s position shows how campus jobs directly influence student life by creating the experiences that become memories.
While balancing work and academic responsibilities is sometimes difficult, students assure that it is manageable. Khatri shared, “Sometimes it is rough, but my boss is flexible, understanding and supportive. She’s always there for me and is willing to give me extensions.”
Kraiker emphasizes scheduling: “I usually try to schedule work during my free days so that it doesn’t interfere with my course schedule. To reduce stress, I also try to do more homework on days where I’m not scheduled to work.”
Benner also highlights the importance of time management. “It’s all about balance. Being able to set aside time throughout the day to complete homework truly helps. If the desk isn’t busy, many of us student employees then have the opportunity to get schoolwork done.”
Lastly, Luzak emphasized collaboration. “If for some reason I have conflicts, my job allows me to talk with my coworkers and Brent Papson to try and schedule times that work best for us all. If other students are looking to navigate balancing a job and school life, I would say that there’s always something that will work best for you. Having a more time-consuming job just wasn’t the best fit for me, so I love that I found a group where I can be able to have some flexibility when working around my coursework schedule.”
Campus jobs also shape students’ professional and personal growth. “I’ve definitely gained a lot of helpful skills from this role. It’s helped me become more responsible and mature, and has helped me to enhance my time management skills,” Khatri said.
Kraiker emphasizes learning. “My job helped me get more hands-on experience outside of my engineering classes and taught me how to explain information to students in an understandable way.”
Beyond the experiences of those she serves, Benner highlighted her own interpersonal development: “I have been able to meet so many different people, improve on my customer service skills and learn so much about how to problem-solve.”
Lastly, Luzak captivates the broader impact of being a student employee. “This job has absolutely transformed my Bucknell experience in all the best ways.”
Together, these experiences highlight the depth of student employment and how it shapes countless experiences within the Bucknell community. Alongside faculty and staff, students are the agents that allow Bucknell to operate. Whether they are directly relevant to a student’s future career path or a newfound interest developed along the way, students’ jobs provide them with skills of leadership, adaptability and interpersonal connection that they can carry with them in all of their future endeavors.
