I just want to thank everyone for their input. After some more extensive online research - evening classes, VA benefits payouts, and the like - and few hours of deliberation on the topic at hand, I've decided to go with the first option as most of you have correctly pointed out that it provides a more secure and beneficial position for me. That and the fact that I suppose I'm not really all that keen on big sales events and up-selling products to customers. Besides, I get to sit pretty much all day at the security job. Now that'll be a nice change from all the standing all day I had to do in pretty much all my previous jobs. ;)

Guess I'll let that retailer know tomorrow morning that I'm pulling myself out of the race in the last minute. Bet they'll love that. Heh. Oh well, it's not like I've signed an official employment contract just yet.

Anyway, thanks again for the voices of reason.

In addition to everything else which folks are summing up nicely, you will possibly have time to study for your classes during downtimes in the security gig and that's definitely not happening as a cashier.

I would pick the one that seems the least complicated or least stressful, whatever that means for you specifically.

Personally I thought it was more of a nuisance having to continuously change my schedules around.
Having a set schedule also made it easier for me to pick my courses, due to fewer courses being offered in the evening or afternoon.

It sounds like you've made a very reasonable decision!

I just wanted to add that -- in the case you are worried about scheduling college courses given your full-time work load -- the possibility exists for you to take courses online. I can tell you from my own personal experience that public universities are especially keen on assisting working professionals obtain either 2 or 4 year degrees. In fact, many credible universities even offer degree plans that can be obtained without ever attending classes in person! As long as you put in the effort, its very possible to maintain a full-time, stable job and still pursue a college degree.

Best of luck!

I just stumbled to this thread, but good choice. Working as a security guard should leave you with a lot of free time, which you can spend to study. So actually you'll work and learn new stuff in the same time.

I would take the more stable 1st position as the second one sounds like they will drop you once the peak season is over. As your biggest worry was whether you would be going to school and the conflict with the 1st job, since you havent actually started the process of registering, you can still work this job while you get your ducks in a row.

once you have the guard gig, there are night classes to start with you can take to get the bullcrap required classes out of the way, then once you figure out what you want to do and the classes get more specific for your degree then you can change jobs to accommodate that new and ever changing school schedule.

Or , if the night classes dont appeal to you, you can always quit the guard gig once school starts and get part time work in the service industry at any time.

main thing is stability, benefits, and a steady income coming so from there you can make realistic plans to better yourself later on.

cheers and good luck!

edit: oops, just read you had already made the decision, great minds think alike!