In the current era of Blackberry and Burberry, pizzas and pastas, i phones and i pads, stilettos and skimpy dresses, Pulsars and Porsches, whisky and wine, the youth of the city are lost in an exuberant ocean of materialistic temptations. Similar to the way a snake charmer charms his snake into dancing to his tune, these objects are charming today's youngsters merely by their appearance and name into going that extra mile to add them to their platter of possessions.
On a platter
Speaking a thousand words from the racks and menu cards of renowned boutiques, stores, restaurants, hookah parlours and discotheques, they are filling up the youth of the city with a zillion desires. And what are these young adults doing towards fulfilling them? Part time jobs and small scale businesses seem to be the answer. The present day youngster wishes to demonstrate independence through the life he lives and among the various facets involved, finance tops the list.
We've come a long way since the days when college-goers would stretch out their hands before their parents for a few pennies to splurge in a new dress or indulge in a cup of coffee. In contrast to the previous scene, Nandhini G, a 20-year-old, pursuing M A Communication at MOP Vaishnav College For Women says, “I'm working part-time at a PR company called Path Finder Communication in the client servicing and new business development departments. I'm working to support my mother financially; I give her half my salary every month. I feel at this level, you should support your parents and not expect them to support you.”
Siddhart Arora, a student of Loyola College, says, “I spend the money that I earn on coffees and lunch with friends, buying gifts for birthdays and other occasions and recharging my phone. I don't like the idea of asking my parents for money. They keep asking me questions. This way, I earn, I spend.”
Now just a couple of hours at work can fill your pockets with a few grand; spending one of your precious evenings welcoming guests, anchoring the show, demonstrating gadgets or just entertaining customers at promotion events and launches of various products, services and organizations can make you capable of affording a wholesome meal at a pizza joint or even a pair of sports shoes. Collegians seem to be fascinated by this easy path to cash; whether they enjoy doing it or push themselves for the sake of fulfilling some deep desire of theirs is a different issue altogether.
Gayathri Rajendran, a student of Stella Maris College says, “I do promotion jobs but I find it very odd sometimes. People keep staring at you; it gives me negative vibes.” However, these jobs even provide you with other facilities like a pick up and drop if it's too late, pay your petrol bills or auto fares for the day and dinner, at times.
Various options
Teaching, from aerobics to art and craft and even at play schools is seen to be another area of work-interest. Small scale event management that provide for birthday parties and corporate lunches, home-made chocolates and cakes and re-charging of mobile phones are a set of businesses that students are involved in. Freelance writing is another way of minting money.
However, some work for a reason beyond money, simply for passion. Aishwarya G, a content writer for fulloncinemas.com says, “The more experience you get, the better you do. It is a practical experience of what I'm learning in college.” Inclined towards pleasure seeking and luxurious lifestyles, the number of part-timers is rising by the hour.
Payal is a MA Communication student at M.O.P. Vaishnav College For Women
