Respecting work. All work.

There seems to be an unspoken rule that says people from fairly well-to-do families cannot do jobs that are usually considered "too small" in our society. This includes a wide range of positions starting from being a salesperson to a driver on a ride-sharing service, all of which are unfortunately looked down upon equally.

Even in the most gruelling times of need, these jobs usually don't appear to be taken into consideration as an option for most. An alarming number of people, especially the educated would rather remain hungry than put food on their plate by waiting tables or working at a supermarket. They tend to assume that this will vandalise their social image and misplace them in the hierarchy.

However, the boundary of this sanctimony seems to be confined to our country only. People seem to have no issue doing these same jobs for financial stability in a different country, where they often emigrate for educational purposes. In this particular instance, they appear to have a much more accepting approach towards their work which gives birth to a question that asks why it cannot be the same in our own motherland as well.

Diving deeper into the reasons, parental pressure seems to play a major role in establishing this outlook. I think it is safe to say that we are all familiar with the very customary demands of numerous parents who have an unwavering desire for their children to become doctors or engineers and nothing even slightly different. It is seen that when children are constantly reminded of this from their adolescent years, this notion eventually gets instilled into their systems despite a lot of their unwillingness to go into these fields. Ultimately, many of them are unable to excel in these sectors, and some even end up unemployed. Hence when they wind up having to do "small" jobs that they never intended to, they are labelled as "failures".

If an individual is able to respectfully make a living for themselves through a certain job, there is no reason to deem it undignified. It is important to recognise that a thicker bundle of money at the end of each month and a fancier title does not make you better than anyone else. Moreover, if you can financially sustain yourself from a younger age through the vast availability of these jobs, there is no reason to dismiss the opportunity so abruptly, especially if you are in need of it.

Although it is true that some jobs require more qualifications and carry more responsibilities than others, it does not mean that the others are not valuable. Every job holds relevance and somehow contributes to the community; starting from janitors to CEOs of multinational companies. The amount of respect you treat people with should not simply depend on their job title or the figure of their salary. You reveal your identity based on how you treat people regardless of where they come from or where they work.

If you are a young individual looking to financially support yourself, someone who is currently unemployed and in need of a job or even if you are simply bored and looking for new experiences, do not hesitate to give these jobs a shot. Even though it is easier said than done, turn a deaf ear to the naysayers, and make your own decisions for yourself.  

Anusha often has a lot on her plate. Send her memes and motivation at anusha.mourshed11@gmail.com