Campus Chronicles: Surviving bankruptcy in university

Money, that five letter word is the lifeline of any student on campus. It turns one’s insides into a pile of ashes; and dispels all fear- in equal measure, albeit depending on the substance thereof. No any other person desperately needs cash like a campus student, because it is in it that they will do their assignments, fill their stomachs, and for a few, have some fun- if time will allow.

Unfortunately, the much needed money seems to be lacking largely. Be it known to you oh dear reader that the much hyped HELB loan that students get is an ink drop in the ocean. The temporary savior comes when most of students have hit the rock bottom and they therefore tend to use it out of emotion and excitement, rather than reason and sobriety, and before one knows it, the balloon has burst. Back to square one- broke. For those who use it so well, they do not reap so big either. Ok, they do not dodge bankruptcy for a long period. Usually they will pay school fee and do a little shopping, and it ends there.

For that reason, comrades are forced by circumstances to look for other ways of beating the adversary- scarcity of money. Various comrades have gone long ways to beat this cold- ranging from starting some business ventures in school to skipping meals, all in a bid to stay afloat. Let me walk you through this narrow, thorny road. Read on!

Business

Small business in school seems to have attracted most of the students looking for cash. Some have ventured into clothes-selling, others to small restaurants, and well, others to hawking in the varsity hostels and pavements, especially in the evening hours.

Cecily Kerosi is a freshman in Mount Kenya University, has partnered with her two classmates to sell clothes in school. She says that the constant need for money, and the embarrassment of keeping on calling home for more cash day after day gave birth to the idea, which she, together with her two friends, have used to get an extra coin. She says that she sells clothes for ladies only, after classes in the evening. “Our stock almost ends every week and we go for another,’’ she says.

“We buy our stock at a relatively cheaper price and we end up getting a good profit eventually,” Cecily adds. For her, the school has no problem with them conducting their hustle in school. Things seem to work well for them. However, they are not without problems. She tells me that initially, they were a cohort of four, before one of them left the business group.

“That lady was reluctant in contributing towards buying our stock in a weekly basis. Since we could not foot her expenses all the time, we had to let her go,” Cecily says.

She adds that the lady who they let go started spoiling the name of their business; consequently, they lost some customers. However, that did not continue forever as some of their customers started finding their way back. Cecily uses her profit in footing her rent and buying food in bulk.

‘I also save some cash; and then I use the rest in spoiling myself once in a while,’’ she says.

Josphat Ombati, a third year student in Gretsa University almost shares the same story. He sells clothes for ladies in school for upkeep. He says that he gets his capital from parents and relatives. Josphat also works in during his holidays to raise capital for his business once he resumes school, and also to meet his needs even when at home. He says the driving force is to keep oneself busy, productively.

‘’I use the money that I get from this venture to buy clothes and cater for my basic need such as food,” Josphat says.

Venom Mochama is a sophomore in the Technical University of Mombasa. He and Victor, his friend, operate a casual grocery in the school premises. They sell all sorts of fruits, which they buy in bulk from the nearby Kongowea market. Venom also does some hawking in the school hostels in the evening hours. He tells me that he balances his studies and the business by devoting his morning hours to books, and paying maximum concentration to lecturers during class time. When he is in class, Victor takes up the role of selling their merchandise. He too works while at home to raise initial capital for every semester. He says he uses his profit for upkeep and entertainment.

Henry Ford, a fourth year student seems to have found his niche in cyber cafe business. He studies IT in the Technical university of Mombasa. His greatest strength is the loads of assignments that lecturers give almost daily, and which require typesetting and printing.

“I earn on a daily basis since students must come to me for printing, or some other internet services, e.g. registration of units,” he says.

Henry was forced into this business by a hard hitting economic crisis that hit him during his sophomore year.

“I could go without a coin for a week, only surviving at the mercy of my fellow students who stood by my side at the hour of need,” he adds. That came after he had used up the whole money for upkeep that had been budgeted for by parents to see him through the whole month.

“I really had to do something... I borrowed money and started this business, which has kept me going all this time,” he recounts

The greatest challenge to his business is competition from other emerging similar businesses. However, he says that he has been able to meet up the competition by the grace of his loyal friends, who will only go to his cyber for work.

Ford advises fellow students to avoid faking large lives in school just to attract and impress girls. He says that that has led to many students going broke semester after semester.

“Be honest to yourself, and live to your financial capability,” he says.

Others opt to cutting their food expenses much as possible, so as to navigate through. Those, more often than not find the much dreaded and often looked down upon by many; school cafeteria, popularly known as a ‘mess’, a savior. In the mess, food is cheaply sold, albeit at a relatively lower quality, compared to other restaurants in the school. The mess’ faithful can fill their stomachs for as little as twenty bob.

Another group, resorts to skipping meals, breakfast for example, so as to cut their expenses. They are they who will wake up and take a shower, apply some jelly on their bodies and add a cologne spray, to appear normal and full, as they head to lecture theaters. Others take breakfast and skip lunch, for similar purposes.

When all is said and done, staying on campus is a tough experience, especially if one comes from a humble background. Those who think that life on campus is all rosy and like a walk in the park will be judged harshly by facts. Comrades, soldier on; even this will end someday.