Money cannot buy happiness. Money also cannot buy experience.
Finding and working internships is difficult for a lot of students. There is often an internal battle when making a decision between internships that offer good experience with no/low pay or useless experience with (higher) pay. It was difficult for me to decide as well – like other university students, I have bills to pay and things to buy. But in the end, I’m glad I opted for the Student Apprenticeship Program with iMADdu (which offered me academic credit).
To think of it optimistically, it is simply a time investment. The ROI (return on investment) is awesome at iMADdu. I am able to gain new experience and build on old experiences. I am able to apply my skills and better discover my strengths and weaknesses. I am given the opportunity to meet new people and work with clients/partners. Through all this, I now have a better understanding of myself, my career, and I have gained an abundance of experiences and skills to write on my resume.
Really, in the long run, this time investment will be much better than if I had opted for a paid internship that did not offer much experience. Don’t be afraid to offset your financial situation as a student. That’s what the rest of your life is for…