They chose skills over college: How 3 students built careers while earning stipends

Three young Indians took different routes after school, from open schooling to a year of uncertainty. Through short vocational courses, they gained practical skills, began internships earning Rs 14,000 to Rs 18,000 a month, and continued building careers in healthcare, retail and hospitality while staying focused on their bigger goals.Three young Indians took different routes after school, from open schooling to a year of uncertainty. (l to r: Anshu, Raj and Anurag Rajni)For Anurag Rajni Kujur, the first salary was not just money in a bank account. It was a reason to take her mother out for dinner and buy her a saree.For Anshu Sagar, earning while studying meant he could move towards financial independence without giving up his long-term plan of becoming a lawyer.And for 19-year-old Raj Kumar, a year spent wondering what to do after Class 12 finally gave way to a career in hospitality.Their circumstances are different, but all three found a route through short-term vocational training that allowed them to learn practical skills, enter internships and start earning while they figured out their longer-term careers. FROM A MISSED EXAM TO A HOSPITALAnurag's journey has had more detours than most.Raised by her maternal grandparents while her mother worked in Delhi, she was hospitalised during her Class 10 board examinations and could not complete them. Instead of abandoning her education, she later cleared Class 10 through open schooling and continued studying. Her goal was always healthcare. After moving to Delhi to pursue a BSc Nursing degree, she enrolled in a General Duty Assistant programme.One experience during the training particularly strengthened that decision. At a Nurses Day health camp, she helped with patient registration, recorded vital signs and supported healthcare professionals.Then came her internship at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, where she is working in the Endoscopy Department and supporting the medical team.Her first stipend was Rs 14,000.Her mother, who works as a house helper, was happy and proud. Anurag Rajni responded by taking her family out for dinner and gifting her mother a saree.For someone who had once missed an entire board examination because of hospitalisation, working inside one was another kind of milestone.Her aim now is simple: become a qualified nurse and support her family.WORKING TOWARDS LAW, ONE CUSTOMER AT A TIMEAnshu's challenge was different.His parents had worked hard to support the family, but money remained limited. He wanted to continue his education while also becoming financially independent.He enrolled in a Retail Management programme and later began an internship at Lifestyle, where he earns a monthly stipend of Rs 18,000.The classroom training helped him build confidence, but dealing with customers took that learning into the real world. He learnt customer service, sales, communication and retail operations while continuing his bachelor's degree.That experience has also shaped how he thinks about his future.Anshu wants to pursue an LLB and eventually become a lawyer. Working with customers, he says, has taught him patience, active listening and how to communicate with different kinds of people.Those skills, he believes, could help him understand clients and handle difficult situations later.His first earning experience also changed how he saw himself. He used part of his stipend for personal needs and contributed a small amount to his family.For him, the internship is not the destination. It is helping finance the journey towards something bigger.AFTER A YEAR AT HOME, RAJ FOUND HIS DIRECTIONRaj Kumar was not sure he wanted the traditional college route.After Class 12, he spent nearly a year at home, uncertain about what to do next. He wanted something practical and was looking for a career path that could get him started.He eventually enrolled in a Certificate in Hospitality Management programme. The training covered guest service, coffee preparation, customer handling and communication.He is now interning as a barista at Bakingo, earning Rs 14,000 a month.His first day was a mix of nervousness and excitement. He met new colleagues, learnt workplace rules and began getting used to the environment.But one customer interaction stayed with him. A regular customer was having a difficult day, so Raj prepared their favourite coffee and spent some time talking to them.The customer appreciated the gesture. It taught him something that a classroom exercise could not.Being a barista, he realised, was not only about making coffee. It was also about creating a warm experience for another person.Raj now wants to grow in the hospitality industry and build a stable career.He also has a message for students who feel that a traditional degree is the only route to a decent career. Vocational skills, he believes, can provide practical experience, confidence and direction.WHEN SKILLS BECOME A FIRST STEPThe three stories also point to a larger question facing young people after Class 12: what happens when the traditional college route is not immediately possible, desirable or clear?For some, the answer can be a skill course that gets them into a workplace sooner while leaving room for further education.The Monica Sarin Foundation says 301 students have completed these programmes so far, with a reported placement rate of 95 percent. Its three-month courses are open to Class 12 pass-outs aged 18 and above, with hospitality and healthcare among the sectors seeing the most hiring. The foundation says average stipends range from Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000.For Anurag, Anshu and Raj, however, the numbers tell only part of the story.One is working towards becoming a nurse after an interrupted education. Another is earning while pursuing a degree and dreaming of law. The third found a career direction after spending a year unsure about his next move.None of them has reached the end of the road yet.But all three have something they did not have before: a first step, a skill they can use and a clearer idea of where they want to go next.- EndsPublished On: Sep 12, 2026 20:26 IST