The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Blending education with work

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 16, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Blending education with work

Puja S. Navin

CONFIDENCE PERSONIFIED: Mukesh Singh, (at right) a Sandwich Artist and cashier at Subway in Hyderabad. - Photo: K. Ramesh Babu.

HYDERABAD: Bikes, cell phones, belts, perfumes and a bag full of experience. For many 19 to 21-year-old Hyderabadis, college is not the only place for education.

They romp through career specific skills as they take a detour from full-time education to part-time work as sales executives, cashiers, product promoters, sandwich artistes and call centre executives.

"It is enough if I study for three hours a day," says 19-year-old Meena Kumari Bhatt, first year biotechnology student. Hence, free time is spent selling electronic goods in a mall. "Why should I waste time watching television and chatting?" asks the young executive, two months into her new assignment, with newfound confidence.

Don't her parents discourage her? "Oh no, they have full confidence, I will handle any situation," she retorts, explaining the product details to a customer.

Her work not only expands her knowledge, but the cash reward of Rs. 5,000 per month is a big bonus for the biotech buff, who plans to run a pharmaceutical unit some day.

For V. Aravind Kumar, B.Com final year student, who works as a cashier, Rs. 4,500 earned is ploughed into monthly instalments for his new bike. "I give Rs. 1,500 to my mother", he says with a look of pride.

Mukesh Singh is a happy youngster with double promotion at work in just one-and-a-half years. For the 21-year-old, a B.Sc final year student, a job as a sandwich maker in Subway restaurant in the city means he doesn't want to "depend on his parents for everything." The experience will come in handy after graduation, hopes this aspiring model.

But what about examinations? "I take leave to prepare for the exams," adds the spirited youngster, who takes time off on Sundays to recharge and relax before going in for jam-packed schedules during the week.

Working on evening shifts, these youngsters pick up anywhere between Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 6,000 per month. "A part-timer earns Rs. 9000, including tips," says Tommy Anto, manager, Pizza Hut. But more than the monies, it's the chance to experience the world first-hand and daily shots of confidence that happen when some one earns a best cashier award, gets more incentives than her friends that make parents flexible to this new real-time study option.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section