I'm a doctoral student looking for a way to fund at least part of my living expenses or maybe even some of my tuition (if I never get an assistantship). The main issue is I never have enough of a consistent schedule to get a regular job. Classes in my department are early morning, afternoon, and late night. Not to mention I have to be available in the evenings at least for gigs.

And in the summers, I have gigs and other obligations in other states so I can't be in one place 24/7 for 3 months. (I'll only be gone a few days to a week a few times this summer, but still). I've looked into temp work, but my specialities are in music and writing. I have a minor in math so I could probably tutor if being a tutor paid enough or if I can even figure out how to apply at my university (the applications are for several years ago and say they're only for undergrads?)… I can get money from gigs, but I need something that's more consistent than that is right now.

If there was something I could work on on my own time that would be great, because I have time, it's just not on a consistent schedule. And I can't sign up for a work study yet because I have not been informed about teaching assistantships or if I'm even eligible for a work study next year!

I've gotten a couple of job offers, but most seem to require that I drop out of school. Or they at least require that I go work in an industry that I have no knowledge, experience, or interest in. But then, that's probably what I'm going to have to do even once I get a doctorate. Or move to another country that actually has jobs and puts value on the arts…

I just want to be a responsible adult and help pay for my living expenses, if not become financially independent. But it seems I have to give up my aspirations and dreams and the work I've already done in order to do so. I guess I'm just unwilling to do that, but that probably makes me selfish.