5 Reasons why Student Life is better than Professional Life
“What a fool! Can’t you do even a single task that has been allocated to you? Mam was right. Hiring you was a mistake”
I overheard this while I was shopping in a store. A senior worker was scolding her subordinate worker. The language was harsh enough. Mind you, both of them seemed to be equal in age. Then why such a rough language?
Had it been a college, would a student listen and get away with that? Certainly not. College life is so much filled with ego and a different attitude.
In college, the same situation would have turned into backfiring. The statements would float like — How come did you talk to me like that? Do you even know me? I’ll see you!
But this was a different case. The junior worker was a person with a job there. A single aggressive statement could risk her job and she knew it very well. This is the difference. In college life, you simply have nothing to lose.
I have seen some of my seniors getting into a sudden transformation from student life to professional life. I have been observing my own family members and siblings. Hanging out with elders gave an extra edge to me. The difference between professional life and student life is crystal clear to me.
Here are the 5 important differences between student life and professional life:
1] Boss vs Teacher-
As I mentioned in the above anecdote, is a boss even comparable to your teacher?
If your boss insults you, it is a question over your ability and skills. You are questioned in front of other capable colleagues who might be promoted leaving you behind. Sometimes, you will be working hard but your boss will be favoring someone else over you. Exchanging hot words could even risk your job. It is just so indefinite.
Even if you own a business, your customer is your boss. The same things happen again.
But what if your teacher insults you? You don’t give a shit. Honestly, it doesn’t even affect you in the long run. It might hurt for a while and you will forget the episode soon. You have nothing to lose.
2] Holidays -
Strike? Let’s bunk.
Communal violence? Let’s bunk.
Is it raining heavily? Let’s bunk.
Best friend’s birthday? Let’s bunk.
Weekend hangover not over yet? Let’s bunk.
Not feeling well? Let’s bunk.
Assignment not completed? Let’s bunk.
Presentation today? MASS BUNK.
The list of bunks is just so long. Nobody even bothers about your attendance. The compulsory attendance of 75% is anyway pointless. Students are already blessed with all festivals, summer vacation, college fests, and other days which exempt them from normal days.
Now ask or watch someone who is working in a private sector, especially in the IT sector. You get such a limited number of holidays. Forget about the date eves or friend’s marriage, people struggle even for one sick leave. It is not really entertaining to miss a family get-together just because you have to complete your targets on MS Excel or prepare a presentation for Monday.
3] Office Politics -
When someone’s failure decides your success, it no longer remains a fair friendship. This is what happens in an office environment.
Let’s say there is a team of 5 people and one of them will be promoted to the post of team leader after the completion of a project. Will it be possible to work together in harmony? Isn’t it common psychology to race ahead of everyone?
And come on let’s admit it. We don’t go to the workplace for making friends, do we? We are there for making money and growing in our career. That is a harsh reality. Maybe not for you, but definitely for your colleague. Being straight like log-wood doesn’t help.
Nothing is worse when your colleagues are your rivalries. This almost never happens in student life. Sure, some toppers might compete with each other filled with jealousy. Others simply don’t care.
4] Income vs Expenses
Sure, you might be happy for a month or two. After all, you are earning now. You got independent and fulfilled the dream of your parents. But the reality hits hard when you realize that it is not really working the way you expected.
While being a student, you were not expected to pay your bills. Rent, groceries, traveling costs and every possible bill was being borne by your parents. You never realized that there are so many hidden expenditures you have been doing all these years.
If you happen to leave your hometown for the first time and that too for a job, I’d like to wish you good luck. Better luck if you had taken some educational loans. I assume you are already aware of the interest rates of education loans.
A happy realization to you that your salary money is never going to satisfy your ‘needs’. The same needs that had been set up as per your lifestyle during your college days.
The expectations of spending on miscellaneous things become real. You’re expected to pay just because you are earning now.
Now, I don’t need to mention what your student life looks like.
5] Free Time -
“I’ll study now. Once I get a job and get settled, I will work on my hobbies and passion”
If this is what you think, you are committing a grave mistake.
Student life is the time when you have to learn and polish your skills. It is the time when you have to meet new people in the stream of your profession and network with them. You need to take some courses and apply them while being a student.
Student life is the best time to achieve all the skills of interest. Let’s assume you give your 10 hours a day to the college. I am sure, it is less than that. Don’t tell me you need to study in your college. You and me — both of us know the importance of those numbers. Study one night before and people achieve a good enough pointer.
But in professional life? Your typical working hours are 12–14 hours depending on the field and city.
When are you going to learn and explore things? Are you going to concentrate on your job and investments or are you going to look upon the things to learn?
Time is more like to be seen as an asset. It has to be invested in yourself and your personality building. Once gone, the time can never return back to you.
In case you are thinking that things will be different for entrepreneurs or businessmen, it is the time to come out of the cave.
Conclusion —
Some things are to be taken into consideration apart from that you are to become financially independent:
- If you feel your teacher is annoying, let your boss come in.
- Professional culture does not allow you with frequent leaves and irregularities.
- Office politics is for real and brutal.
- Expenditures are more than you can imagine.
- Student life is the only period where you get time to invest in yourself.
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