Gone are the days when youngsters visited their cousin’s home or went to their native place to spend their vacations. Youngsters in the city now take the initiative by working part-time or get a taste of setting up their own business.
Some work for event management companies, stitch their own clothes, create jewellery and sell it to friends. They make the most of their vacation by learning what life is like in the business world and dabbling in entrepreneurship. This keeps them occupied during the holidays, helps them earn so they can spend their own cash once they go back college.
Gayathri Kumar is a fashion design student who assists fashion choreographer during his shows. Along with her friend Rashmi, Gayathri co-ordinates back-stage work for the choreographer. “I believe this is one of the best options that keeps us occupied during our free time. At the same time, we get to learn a lot and meet people, which help us in our career. As we are into fashion designing, working under a fashion choreographer before finishing our studies is an experience.”
Students say part-time jobs give them self-confidence, develop their communication skills and help them adjust with people they work with.
Anupradha, a class 12 student says it is boring to stay at home during holidays. She had special classes to attend till last week, but now has two jobs to choose from. “It is always better to work rather sitting at home wasting time and holidays. My friends have got into promotions and a few of them plan to get into tele-calling as it helps them earn money easily within a few hours.”
Event managers say several girls ask for jobs in promotional activity during the summer vacations as they do not want to stay idle. Franklin. R, chief executive officer of an event managing company, says they promote products by distributing pamphlets. “These girls actively participate and are willing to work for us. So more than experience, we look out for people who can work.”
Other youngsters prefer to work from home. Bhargavi. R, a student of class 12 is awaiting her results and spends her time making jewellery and displaying it at a boutique owned by a friend. “I have got a few enquiries and college students want me to do similar pieces for them with different colours,” she says.
Bhargavi too believes one can work from home and spend the vacation usefully rather wasting it away.
Shreesha S. Reddy
The Asian Age