OUR VIEW: Donating plasma a sign of laziness or business?
In February, the U.S. Labor Department released figures showing Logan had an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent last December, the second lowest in the nation. This is good for college students who need all the money they can get between rising tuition and the costs of replacing the milk after roommates drink it all.
Let’s face it, school is expensive. This is why so many students sport part-time or full-time jobs in addition to a full load of classes. But hey, at least with Logan’s unemployment rate as it is, getting a job is possible. Why, then, would students opt to earn their money from donating plasma?
Needles are used to run tests on patients and to make the unhealthy a little healthier. They are found in doctor’s offices and hospitals and are associated with pain. Kids often erupt in a flood of tears when faced with the small, sharp instruments and even many college students cite needles as one of their top fears. Again, why would students opt to earn their money from donating plasma?
One logical reason is laziness. To earn money, you can either get a job with a set schedule and work under a boss, or you can donate plasma whenever (as long as it has been at least 48 hours since your previous visit), you set your own schedule and you don’t have a boss to answer to. For someone who wants a little extra cash and has a hard enough time getting up to go to classes, this might sound like the perfect situation.
Another reason is the money. By donating plasma twice a week, students can earn up to $60 as compensation. Sixty bucks isn’t much, but for some students it’s all that is necessary. This is just enough to buy groceries, some gas for the car and a little play money for someone with a careful budget.
What it all comes down to is personal decision. If the need for a no-strings-attached source of spending cash is tempting enough to drown out the idea of needles and selling your plasma, go for it. If not, well, we won’t argue with you on that.