Half Study, Half Survival: A Student’s Double Life
Tracking Indian Youth: Gaurav Yadav
The Tracking Indian Youth Workers Media Fellowship presents the next in a series of stories capturing the lives of young workers across India.
For many students, school is the center of life. For others, survival comes first. Twenty-year-old Gaurav Yadav belongs to the second category — a young student balancing the demands of education with the realities of earning a living. By day he attends school, and by night he works long shifts serving food, carrying trays, and standing on his feet for hours.
His story reflects the invisible struggle of thousands of young Indians who quietly juggle education and labour in hopes of a more stable future.
“Sometimes life isn’t about choosing between dreams and responsibility — it’s about carrying both at the same time.”
Read his full story below. Profile by Paridhi Jain.
Q: Can you tell me a little about yourself?
A: My name is Gaurav Yadav. I’m 20 years old. I belong to Uttar Pradesh, but a few years ago my family moved to Jaipur in search of better job opportunities. Right now, I’m studying in Class 12 while also working at Pizza Hut.
Q: What does your family do for a living?
A: We are five members in the family. My father works as a daily-wage labourer, and my mother works as a security guard. I also have one sister and one brother. Whatever little money we earn mostly goes toward rent, food, and education.
Q: You study during the day and work the night shift. How does your routine look?
A: I go to a government school in the morning and return home around 1 PM. After that, I try to complete my homework and revise my lessons. At 7 PM, I leave for my shift at Pizza Hut, where I work until 4 AM. By the time I reach home and sleep, it’s almost morning again. Then the same cycle repeats.
Q: That sounds exhausting. How do you keep yourself going?
A: Honestly, I rarely get time for myself. My body feels tired most of the time. Sometimes during the night shift, when there are fewer customers, I get a short break — that’s the only moment I can really breathe. Otherwise, my weeks pass between work, study, and sleep.
Q: What kind of work do you do at Pizza Hut?
A: I do almost everything — from cleaning and taking orders to sometimes delivering food. It depends on what is needed at the moment. People think it’s easy, but handling customers at midnight, lifting things, and standing for hours can be very draining.
Q: Do your classmates or friends know you work nights?
A: Very few people know. I don’t like talking about it much. In India, people often look down on jobs like this. They think only poor or uneducated kids do them. But I’m not ashamed. At least I’m not wasting my time — I’m working and earning with dignity.
Q: Why do you think people attach stigma to jobs like yours?
A: In India, people mostly respect “big jobs” like government jobs or office jobs. Work like waiting tables or cleaning is often seen as low. But in many other countries, students proudly do part-time jobs. Here, if you’re wearing a Pizza Hut cap, society quickly decides your status.
Q: How much do you earn from this work? Is it enough?
A: I earn around ₹10,000–12,000 depending on the month and the number of shifts. It helps with household expenses and my school fees. It’s not enough, but it still makes a difference. At least it reduces some of the burden on my parents.
Q: What do you dream of doing after your studies?
A: To be honest, I don’t dream much. In middle-class families like ours, we are often taught to work hard rather than to dream big. But if I get the opportunity, I would like to continue my studies and get a stable job where I don’t have to sacrifice my health like this.
Q: What’s the hardest part of juggling school and night work?
A: Staying awake in class. After working until 4 AM, I barely get enough sleep before going to school. My body is there, but my mind feels tired. Sometimes teachers think we’re lazy, but they don’t know the reality behind it.
Q: Is there anything about this job that you actually enjoy?
A: Yes. When I serve food to families or children, sometimes they smile or say thank you. That small moment of respect means a lot. It reminds me that my work matters.
Q: If your life were a dish at Pizza Hut, what would it be?
A: Maybe a “half onion and capsicum pizza.” One half represents my studies, and the other half represents my job. Both are different, but both are necessary for my life right now.
This is an ongoing series of profiles documenting the experiences of young people across India. Stay tuned for more stories from the youth of India. Follow us on social media for more updates.