On the brink of entering the work world,

Auburn’s Jeff Loomans cannot help but feel trepidation as he forges ahead as a freshman at Western Washington University.

It seems that even full-time students are not immune to what’s troubling the country on the economic front. His story is a microcosm of what’s jarring American families and their dwindling budgets.

Loomans, 19, dreams of one day running his own business. But for now, he just wants to survive the semester and finish the school year while enjoying the college experience from the friendly confines of the Bellingham campus.

“It’s kinda scary because you don’t know if you can get the money to pay for next year,” said Loomans, the oldest of five siblings. “You don’t want to take a quarter off because you will be behind, and then you will get off-track to graduation.”

In a country fraught with mass layoffs, increasing unemployment and discouraging financial forecasts, occupying a college classroom might seem a good place to be as the country tries to ride out a deep and crippling recession. But is it?

“We are protected somewhat, but I think the reality is (people) are really struggling, like my parents are struggling,” said Loomans, an honors student who plans to major in finance. “Right now, they can help me out, but it might change. This quarter ends next week, and they will help out in spring quarter. But next year? I’m concerned about what it will bring next year if conditions get worse.”

Loomans, an honors student and four-year soccer player at Auburn Riverside High School, came to WWU with scholarship support. Still, a year of education at Western, by his best estimate, costs about $15,000.

Like many families, money has grown tight in stressful times. The Loomans are no exception. They have a daughter who will enter college next year. Three others will follow.

“I owe them all college educations,” said Jerry Loomans.

For the elder Loomans, times have been unsettling. He sells floor coverings to homes and businesses in a stalled sector of the economy.

“The bulk of what we do is for builders,” he said. “My income has gone to almost nothing, and it scares me to death. It’s terrifying.

“We’ve had slowdowns in the last four-to-six months, but this is scary because there is no light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “And Jeff understands this. He’s a great kid. He’s doing what he can to help.”

Donna Loomans, meanwhile, is a self-employed accountant. She says the sour economy has had a widespread effect on many people, even full-time students.

“They’re hit as hard as we are, but not so drastically,” she said. “But in their lives, it’s drastic.”

To pitch in, Jeff Loomans is rolling up his sleeves and joining the many students who are working their way through school.

According to the American Council on Education, nearly 80 percent of undergraduates work while pursuing a college education, and they are working long hours. On average, students spend 30 hours per week at their jobs, and they’re employed regardless of factors such as age, family income, ethnicity, enrollment status or type of institution they attend.

This summer, Jeff Loomans will work as an intern, running his own branch with Student Works Painting.

He is busy recruiting crews of enthusiastic high school and college students to work the Auburn area, painting the interiors and exteriors of residential and commercial projects.

The program provides college students a chance to gain business experience while earning tuition money. It basically fits the young Loomans’ model.

Jeff Loomans will be in charge of it all, from marketing to finance, from equipment to followups. Between a week’s worth of classes, the young entrepreneur has been going door-to-door, distributing flyers and getting the word out.

But getting started has been tough.

“And the hardest thing, especially right now, is selling. It’s not an easy thing to do,” Donna Loomans said. “You might get one positive and 20 negative (responses) in a day. … It’s a hard time to be doing this.”

Jeff Loomans is undaunted. He knows that in trying times, he must hustle to make a go of it.

“He’s an inspiration to the rest of my children,” Jerry Loomans said. “He’s very loving to his family … and we’re very proud of him.”

The whole experience has matured the young man.

“I’ve always been sheltered,” he said. “But my parents have taught me not to take anything for granted, keep working at it, and eventually you can get through it.”

Interested customers can contact Jeff Loomans at 253-677-5964 or Jeffloomans2@hotmail.com. More program information can be found at studentworksusa.com.