BC’s Wimbush: Managing a Job and College

Being a full-time college student is difficult enough with classes, homework, tests and more, but imagine balancing a job while also trying to manage your college studies. There are a select few students who are willing to work a job while going to college. Damarcus Wimbush is one of those few.

Wimbush is a junior at Bluefield College who majors in exercise and sports science. He graduated from Tunstall High School in Danville, VA, in 2016 and was also a star player on the school’s football team. Since coming to Bluefield College, he has been an excellent student in the classroom and a standout player on the Ram’s football team, earning multiple athletic awards, including Defensive Player of the Year and back-to-back All-American awards, a first for Bluefield College football.

When he’s not in class or on the field, Wimbush is working at Anytime Fitness in Bluefield, VA. It’s a position he said that allows him to work while also getting his school work completed.

“My job is flexible on scheduling hours,” Wimbush said, “and I try to get my school work done in the morning when I go to work after my last class.”

Wimbush is a personal trainer at Anytime Fitness where he has been working for nearly two years. As a personal trainer, he has a set of clients that he puts through different workouts to help them get in shape.

His daily schedule includes workouts at 5:45 a.m., then class from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m., followed by work at 2 p.m., but before he clocks in at work he likes to spend a little time relaxing.

“I enjoy just chilling in the house,” Wimbush said, “whether playing video games or watching a movie before work.”

Wimbush added that as a football player his days are especially busy during the season. The only free time he has is on weekends, since football practice, film study, classes, work, and studies consume his week. Wimbush said the more challenging days are those in which he has a lot of school work, but on those days he still has to clock in.

“I talk to my boss to see if they will let me bring my assignments to work and complete it there,” he said. But with challenges also come benefits, and the main benefit Wimbush said is being able to make money while being a college student. He also spoke about important life lessons he learns.

“If students are interested in working a job, make sure you have a good schedule for school and make sure you have good time management skills,” Wimbush said. These qualities, he said, are key not just for his situation now, but for life, in general.

After college, Wimbush plans to be a personal trainer or even a football coach. Having a job now, he said, sets him apart and gives him a jump start on his career.