The Tracking Indian Youth Workers Media Fellowship presents the next in a series of stories capturing the lives of young workers across India.
Tania Jennifer is a 19-year-old undergraduate student from Avadi, Tamil Nadu, balancing college, caregiving, and work with quiet determination. A BA English student at St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, she supports her family by tutoring children in her neighbourhood while managing household responsibilities at home. Her journey reflects resilience, responsibility, and a deep commitment to education. With a dream of becoming a teacher, Tania is steadily building a future shaped by patience, purpose, and hope.
“No one hands you dreams or freedom—you earn them, step by step, through hard work.”
Read her full story below. Profile by Sajjad Khan.
Q: Hi, can you introduce yourself?
T: Hi, my name is Tania Jennifer. I am 19 years old and live in Avadi, Tamil Nadu, with my parents and younger sister. I am currently a student at St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research. During the day, I attend college, and in the evenings, I take tuition classes at home.
Q: Tell us about your family. What do your parents do?
T: My father works as a daily wage driver. My mother is a homemaker, but she has mobility issues and finds it difficult to move around. Because of this, I take care of most household responsibilities—cleaning, helping with cooking, and washing clothes and utensils. I also tutor children from our locality to earn a small income and support my family.
Q: Can you share a little about your education?
T: I am currently in the second year of my BA English degree at St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research.
Q: How do you manage to pay your college fees?
T: My father pays my college fees, which are around ₹11,000 per semester. I also receive a monthly scholarship of ₹1,000 through the Tamil Nadu government’s Pudhumai Penn scheme. In addition, the income I earn from tutoring children at home helps contribute to our household expenses.
Q: What career do you aspire to pursue?
T: I want to become a teacher. I have a strong desire to teach students and help them learn things they don’t know. At present, I need to stay at home to take care of my mother. Once I graduate, my younger sister will be older and able to help at home. At that point, I hope to take up a full-time teaching job.
Q: What do you enjoy most about tutoring, and what do you find challenging?
T: I truly enjoy teaching the children in my neighborhood. They call me tuition akka (tuition sister), and their energy and smiles lift my mood and motivate me to do better.
Sometimes, however, they can be difficult to manage—they don’t sit still, argue with each other, or ask to play games instead of doing their homework. I see this as part of the job. I don’t get upset; I handle it with patience and try to keep the environment positive.
Q: What important life lessons have you learned through your journey so far?
T: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that I have to earn my own opportunities, dreams, and freedom. No one will hand them to me. Only through hard work can I achieve what I want.
One day, I dream of visiting Paris. If money were not an issue, I would go in a heartbeat. That dream keeps me motivated, and I am working hard to make it come true.
Q: What are your thoughts on the opportunities and challenges faced by young workers in India?
T: I believe that even if you don’t have a job, enough experience, or if you are bound by responsibilities, you can still start something small on your own. There is always a way to begin. The most important thing is not to give up on your dreams. No matter how tough things are, you can keep moving forward if you stay determined.
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.