The Tracking Indian Youth Workers Media Fellowship presents the next in a series of stories capturing the lives of young workers across India.
This is the story of Priscilla Evangeline, an 18-year-old from Oragadam, Chennai, who is balancing work and education to achieve her dream of becoming an English teacher. Coming from a lower-middle-class family, with a father who is a tailor and a mother who works as a housekeeper, Priscilla decided to support herself financially rather than relying on her parents, choosing to fund her education on her own.
“I’m studying for a BA in English Literature. I am paying my college fees with my own salary. There is no pressure from my family to earn but I wanted to support myself and see how much I could manage on my own.”
Read her full story below. Profile by Sajjad Khan.
Sajjad: Priscilla, to start with, can you tell us about yourself?
Priscilla: My name is Priscilla Evangelin. I am 18 years old and live in Oragadam, Ambattur, Chennai. I come from a lower-middle-class family. My father is a tailor, and my mother works as a housekeeper. I currently work as a cashier at SSK Super Mart in Ambattur. My work involves billing, arranging new stock in the rack, cleaning the shop, and attending to customers in case they need something.
I had been looking for a job and went to inquire at the store last year. At the time, they didn’t have any vacancies and asked me to check again the following year. So, I went back this year, and luckily, I got the job. I have been working here for eight months now.
Sajjad: What is your educational background?
Priscilla: I’m studying for a B.A. in English Literature. I am paying my college fees with my own salary. There is no pressure from my family to earn but I wanted to support myself and see how much I could manage on my own.
In the mornings, I attend college, which finishes at 1 PM. After that, I go home for a short while before heading to work at the supermarket from 2 PM to 11 PM.
Sajjad: What are the things you like the most about your work? What do you dislike?
Priscilla: I enjoy my work. My boss is very sweet and humble, and he is very understanding. The staff members are like a family, and I’ve built good relationships with them. One of the perks of the job is that we get special shopping offers, which is a nice benefit.
Through this job, I have learned responsibility and humility. I have also picked up a few financial skills. However, the timing of the shift is an issue- it gets very late at night.
It took me some time to get used to the job. Some customers scolded me when I was new because I didn’t know the store layout very well. When a customer asked for something specific, I sometimes had to call other employees for help. Also, some products get restocked on different shelves, which can be confusing. I remember one time when I was searching for a Lays packet, but it had been moved to another shelf. A customer got frustrated and scolded me, saying, "Don’t you have eyes?"
Over time, I’ve learned to handle such situations better.
Sajjad: What are your future goals?
Priscilla: I want to become an English teacher—it’s my father’s dream for me and I feel like I should somehow fulfill it.
Sajjad: What is your perspective on youth employment in India? Do you think there are sufficient opportunities for young workers like you?
Priscilla: It is difficult to get a job that you truly want. In my case, I need to complete my education before I can work as a teacher. But to pay for my education, I need money—so I have to work a full-time job after college hours.
Even after I complete my education, securing a teaching position at my preferred school might be challenging. Many positions require experience and skills that are very different from what I am gaining in my current job.
Sajjad: Thank you Priscilla for your precious time. It was nice talking to you.
This is an ongoing series of profiles documenting the experiences of young people across India. Stay tuned for more stories from young workers across India. Follow us on social media for more updates.
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