Hobbies can take
 a serious turn

Getting into a career based in creative arts or life sciences is not as easy as it seems for many students. Talk of being a chef, musician, photographer, DJ or even a marriage planner, and parents will take you down with the usual argument of ‘you won’t make a good living’.

However, times are changing at least for a few and education providers are cashing in on the demands of youngsters wanting to learn creative arts. From dance schools to remix lessons at a DJ institute, the creative literati are building avenues to channel ideas and shape careers for students willing to explore an offbeat career.

Business studies and engineering courses still have a large chunk of students hooked on, but the lure of taking a mere hobby and making serious money has lead to a change of perception.

When Faisal Sheikh first started playing music in parties and events, his peers were hesitant of his career choice. He says the first few months were challenging.

“I play music as a hobby and it is one of the ways which keeps me busy. Once I started making a name for myself, my parents realised the potential career avenues in the music and events business,” says Faisal, who is known as DJ Faiz.

Faisal is not alone in convincing his parents to help him take up an offbeat profession. Saurabh Chabra shares another similar story.

Building an online community for students, Saurabh set out to develop a flare for web development. A student of the University of Wollongong in Dubai, he attends classes during the day and turns into a coder by night. For the larger part of his free time, he concentrates on getting youth-centric news for his website www.youtharabia.com.

“At first, my parents were unsure about my academic plans but now they are convinced. The initial period when they are unsure about our career goals is the most difficult one.”

He plans to take up more projects in digital marketing and communication while completing his university course in computer science.

“Hands-on experience is more important than what we get to learn from our classes. Both are equally important but the practical experience overshadows whatever can be learned from books and lectures,” says Saurabh.

Educational institutes and universities make it a point to offer regular short-term courses on more-practical subjects like photography and music mixing, as young students enrol in part-time study as a way to take their hobby to the next level. A level where career and financial goals make more meaning out of a hobby.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com