Summer 2000

more and more college students opt for jobs during their vacations rather than holidaying in native places summer time is here again. it's time for movies, masti, music, sun, sand, surfing (whether the sea or the internet or tv channels) and.... summer jobs. most of us are done with our exams and three yawning months stretch lazily ahead of us. many of us may have planned a get-away or a retreat to some amazing locale but those sitting at home, twiddling their thumbs have no reason to be disappointed. because a summer job can be as exciting and what could be a better way to rake in some moolah? it is surprising to know that one does have a lot of options. one can work in restaurants, small businesses, retail stores, amusement parks, summer camps and so on. there is a job out there to fit almost any personality. established stores and banks do recruit college-goers for summer months. monali sarkar, a xavierite worked for a month as a behind-the-counter sales girl in a clothes shop, "working for somebody taught me that it is not always that you can get your way. it is very difficult to convince people and deal with bosses. it taught me how to communicate effectively with high collared people as well as with people wearing orange plastic shirts and purple velvet pants." there are summer intern programmes at local companies and small firms. karan makhija, an economics student from st. xavier's college works in a stockbroker's office, "i meet people from all walks of life. the nature of my work allows me to watch the market closely which will help me later in life. it also helps me see the evolution of systems of working in the office." in a nutshell, summer jobs mould tomorrow's workforce. like mentioned earlier, there is a plethora of options. the important thing is to recognise that you do have options and in recognising them you gain the ability to explore your options. if one doesn't find a job suited to one's requirements, one can even create a job by baby-sitting, making and selling creative items, writing stories for magazines etc. shirin kapadia from k.c. college makes and sells handicrafts, "i was always interested in doing something creative and art was a form of expression for realising my potential. i learnt doing stuff like pot making, nib painting, caricatures, stainglass painting and similar things and i felt that i should pass this art form to others. during summer, i teach batches of students to make these things. also, i take orders for making give-aways for weddings and special occasions. a lot of my paintings and craft items are also for sale," says shirin. the concept of dignity of labour takes a backseat sometimes when parents think that it is below the dignity of their children to wait on people at restaurants and the like. but the growing trend among teenagers is to respect the dignity of labour. so, if you guys have no attitude or social status problems, go ahead and get that job. shantanu karnik from vaze college, mulund, says that he has no reservations about having a behind-the-counter job at restaurants like mcdonalds. "a job teaches you, above everything else, lessons in humility because your communication and public relation skills are put to the test. i had in fact applied for a job at mcdonalds along with a few of my friends. i believe that americanisation has a lot to do with taking up these kinds of `lesser' jobs. in the us, teenagers do all kinds of jobs to earn pocket money and our national fervour of aping the west has no exceptions here." apart from the experience and the skills that teens pick up, getting their first paycheck is a very emotional thing. it is your money and you have slogged to get every bit of it. when monali got her first pay check, ecstasy was an understatement, "there were times when i was so frustrated that i wanted to quit but when i got my first salary, i realised why people wanted to work." looking for a summer job and having an inherent willingness to work also shows the rise in the sense of responsibility among the youth of today. breaking through the cocoon of individual existence, the teens of 2000 are exploring the socio-economic horizons that lie ahead. ask them about their summer vacations and many teenagers will proudly describe how they worked full or part time, earning their first paycheck and gaining skill and experience. these early jobs do more than provide spending money and saving for college and cars -- they are an introduction to the world of work with its rules, customs, rewards and frustrations. surabhi pilgaonkar st. xavier's college bombaytimes@indiatimes.com