Lindsay Kalvig
Feature Editor

Three part-time jobs, full-time status at NIACC and being a teenager can be extremely stressful for anyone.

So how does sophomore, Brant Chapin, handle it all?

"I try to stay in a good mood and think positive," Chapin said.

Chapin works three part-time jobs at Sears, Hy-Vee East and does a paper route at 4:30 a.m. every morning.

After his paper route, he said he gets ready for school and heads to class at an early hour of 7:00 a.m.

Then Chapin attends NIACC all day as a student in the mechanical design program.

Following school, Chapin then ends the night at one of his other jobs.

"I've adapted to (the lack of sleep)," Chapin said. "I can go off of as little as an hour if needed."

Chapin said that he enjoys his paper route, which he's had for eight years, because he is his own boss.

He has also worked at Sears for three and a half years and at Hy-Vee for about two years.

Chapin works at Sears about 20-25 hours a week and at Hy-Vee on the weekends.

"I like to stay busy and to make money to pay for school," Chapin said of the reason he takes on so many tasks. "It makes me feel like I've conquered something."

Chapin also said that although they worry sometimes, his parents are very supportive and encourage him often.

"My parents wonder if I overwork myself sometimes," Chapin said.

Chapin said that he does have an occasional breakdown about once a week where he realizes that he just needs to take a break.

He said he does this by taking time off from work or spending late nights hanging out with friends.

Chapin's sense of work ethic is exceptional when compared to most.

"That's what you have to do, you have to work to get things done," Chapin said.