The Overnight Shift: Balancing Amazon, College and Big Goals
Most college students spend Friday nights relaxing with friends or catching up on sleep. Da’Maya Smith is just getting started.
Every Friday evening, she heads to her overnight shift at Amazon, where she works from 6:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. sorting packages. After grabbing a few hours of sleep, she does it all again Saturday night. By Monday morning, she’s back on campus as a full-time UNC Charlotte student.
It’s not an easy schedule, but for Da’Maya, it’s one more step toward the future she’s working hard to build.
A double major in Management Information Systems and Marketing with a minor in Japanese, Da’Maya is also a military reservist. Between classes, assignments, drill weekends and overnight warehouse shifts, she’s learned how to make every hour count.
Her college journey didn’t follow the traditional path.
After high school, she attended community college but realized it wasn’t the right fit. She later enlisted in the military, and when she decided to return to school, she came to UNC Charlotte still figuring out exactly what she wanted to study.
“I knew I wanted to do something like business,” she said.
Marketing quickly stood out.
“I like how things are constantly changing,” she said. “I like how tech is becoming nearly everything. I can get internships with it.”
That interest eventually grew into a second major in Management Information Systems, giving her a combination of business and technology skills she hopes will open even more doors after graduation.
Working at Amazon has also helped make earning her degree possible. Through the company’s Career Choice tuition benefit program, offered in partnership with UNC Charlotte School of Professional Studies, Amazon helps cover the cost of her education, allowing her to continue working while making steady progress toward graduation.
Da’Maya said having an employer invest in her education shows that Amazon cares about its employees and their growth.
“It means a lot, really,” she said. “It helps a lot.”
Balancing two majors hasn’t been easy. After switching programs, Da’Maya found herself taking 18 credit hours for some semesters while continuing to work full time on weekends.
Her parents help when they can, but they’ve also encouraged her to become financially independent.
“It’s a little bit more,” she said, “but I make it work.”
When the workload feels overwhelming, she reminds herself how far she’s already come.
“There’s no way I can stop now,” she said.
She also credits her support system for helping her stay focused. Her husband, who is also a reservist, reminds her to slow down when life gets hectic.
“He mainly tells me to calm down and breathe,” she said.
Even her Japanese professors have become an unexpected source of encouragement, reminding her that learning the language is challenging, but that she’s making real progress.
Looking ahead, Da’Maya isn’t chasing a flashy title. She wants stability, opportunities to grow into management and, eventually, the chance to own a business of her own.
For now, though, she’s focused on putting in the work one shift, one class and one semester at a time.
She also has a message for anyone wondering if it’s too late or too difficult to go back to school.
“I would definitely say go for it,” she said. “You have to do what you want to do. Everyone has their own dreams. If someone thinks your dream is odd or impossible, it’s your dream. It’s not their dream.”
And for anyone balancing work and school like she is, she offers one more reminder.
“Just keep going. All this work will pay off. We work hard now, but it’ll be easier in the future.”