The college life provides ample scope for students to set aside more time for their hobby or even pursue an additional course to help them in the career. Many say pursuing practical courses offers respite from regular theory classes in college.
M. Ehjas, who is studying B. Sc (Hotel Management) in SRM University, says “Photography has always interested me.” While pursuing his hobby through a diploma course, Ehjas wants to ensure that he has a degree in hotel management.
A medical student at Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Prashanth Rajagopalan has taken up a weekend diploma course in photography that doesn't interfere with his studies. “I was always interested to know how to capture emotions effectively,” Prashanth says.
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Vrinda Rathi, a BSc (Visual Communications) student of MOP Vaishnav College is simultaneously pursuing a diploma course in interior designing. She wanted a flexible career option that would permit her to work from home. “Electronic media is yet to expand its scope in smaller towns, so it's risky putting all your eggs in one basket,” she says, adding that her family isn't keen on her working in the media.
R. Prasanna of the College of Engineering, Guindy, began learning German as he plans to study in Germany. He believes that it will improve his chances of working there.
Students who take up Chartered Accountancy pursue an additional course, often through the distance mode. They juggle education and fulltime work as assistants to CAs, constantly worrying about getting enough leave from work to study.
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M. Jhanani balances the mandatory CA articleship (internship) while working towards a B.Com degree. “CA is a certification course and I must attend classes as I don't have the knowledge to study on my own.”
“I don't find time to study for the Company Secretary course as the CA articleship takes all my time,” says T. Dileep. “CS is not as tough as CA but the syllabus is voluminous,” he says, adding that he postponed taking the CS exams by six months for want of time.
V. Sriram is pursuing a master's degree in Computer Applications along with CA. “I took up MCA as I am interested in applying my knowledge of computers in CA practice,” he says.
However, Jayachandran, an engineer by profession, who trained as a dancer and now teaches at Kalakshetra, had a different take on the issue. “When you study a wide range of subjects, you develop different perspectives and the horizons of your knowledge keep expanding,” says this researcher who has pursued degree courses in history, philosophy and manual inscription.