It’s been a month since I started working as a teacher, somewhere (let’s not reveal where). They promised to pay me a minimum amount of Rs. 4500 / month, which might increase depending on the amount of efforts I put in and my hard work. For the past one month, every day in the evening, after college, I have been working non – stop. At times 5 hours a day, at times 6, at times 8 and at times even more.
When I got hired, I was not so sure if I would be able to do it. Why? Because I am still studying. What can a Final Year Diploma student do? Teach? Not so sure! There was always one question that haunted me – “What if I fail at teaching correctly?”. But, eventually with time, things fell in place and the rest is known! (I have a lot of amazing, hardworking, smart students) Today it’s been more than a month since my first class. My first class was with an International student. I remember that slot even today.
Well, as I said, it’s been a month. And guess what? I’ll be receiving my FIRST Pay! “FIRST Pay”! My goodness! I have been waiting for it like anything. When I was in standard 10, I had been to tuitions for the first time. On asking about fees, my Science tuition teacher told me and my fellow tuition mate something like this – “Pay me my fees when you start earning.”. I don’t know why she said this that day. But today when I have started earning, I think it’s time to pay her, her share.
Now I have to decide what exactly am I going to do with that FIRST Pay of mine. My family has always been everything for me. No matter how much our thoughts vary, no matter how much I fight with my cousins, but still, they matter the most to me. So, before anything and everything, the biggest share of my FIRST Pay would go to my family. Shouldn’t it? After all it’s because of them that I have been able to accomplish this. So, like every normal human, even I thought that when I’ll receive my FIRST Pay, I’ll hand it over to the head of the family – my Daa. But then I realized, that Daa, wouldn’t accept it whole. Why? Because I am her granddaughter. So, plan changes to handing it over to Maa and Paa. But there is another problem here, that they would put all of it in the bank. And I am a strong believer of the saying – “The more you spend the more you earn!”. So, this plan is cancelled too. Next option is to keep it to myself and give each one of them their share. That sounds good, doesn’t it? Yes! Well how can I forget Preeti Miss? She has been too generous. Next, I want to buy the green – screen and GarageBand and a few novels and ………………. my list is unending! What about saving some money? I think I should do that too.
The concept of FIRST Pay is presented as if it were some kind of achievement. I wouldn’t say it isn’t but I wouldn’t even support the theory. People go crazy, just like me when they realize that it’s time for their “FIRST PAY” celebration and they end up spending it all. I am not telling they shouldn’t enjoy their FIRST Pay, instead I am simply trying to convey that spend in proper proportion. Save a bit for yourself, some for your family and rest for whoever or whatever you want to save for. Just like age, FIRST Pay is just a number!
-Divy
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