Or perhaps, working and earning is a necessity for the average youth in Nepal. Maybe our society is taking a new turn where the youth feel that some work experience will do them good in the long run.[break]
Neha Manandhar credits this increasing trend to both economic situations as well as the need for independence. “I think the youth are starting to work at an earlier age to support their family’s economic condition and to fulfill their requirements which their parents couldn´t or wouldn´t fulfill,” puts Manandhar.
Since the youth are influenced by Western countries, Manandhar also thinks that the Nepali youth are imitating the Western world’s culture of becoming financially independent at a young age.
“I think that because our way of living is changing, the youth also want to change their lifestyle with their own effort,” opines Supriya Thapa, “This is kind of a sign, which shows that the youth want to be independent so that they do not need to seek financial support from their parents when it comes to fulfilling their small needs and desires.”
As soon as young people reach a certain age, they perceive themselves to be capable of making the rules, regulation and decision that govern their lives. “We want to live our lives the way we wish to,” says Ely Shrestha. “And being capable enough to carry on our own load, we feel awkward when asking for pocket-money from our family. So we work to earn that pocket-money and help with some of the finances of our family,” she adds.
Deepak Neupane, however, thinks that the youth are working early these days solely because they have to support their family and help ease the financial burden. He calls this an “underage maturity” of the youth.
Whatever the reason behind young people choosing to work at earlier ages, this phenomenon is certainly positive if they can master the balancing act between completing their studies and working.
The thought of earning and the success stories we have heard about school-dropouts-turned-billionaires, can be alluring. But, it is wise to keep in mind that progress in work cannot be achieved without knowledge. Of course, experience is a good teacher too. But it is the balance of the two which will help us succeed in life.
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