Human resource student employs herself

The routine for most college students evolves around one or two lessons a day and boundless partying on weekends until recess. But for the enterprising student, there are boundless opportunities to make an extra coin.

Lilian Gakeni, a fourth year Human Resource Management student, is a budding entrepreneur. At only 21 years of age Lilianranks has ventured into the fashion world through custom made designs; t-shirts, hoodies sweatshirts as well as Ankara bags under her label @GakeniClosset.

Apart from fashion, Gakeni born and bred in Laare, Maua, is also a recording artiste, digital marketer and the founder and CEO of Gakeni Music Foundation that is involved in motivating, inspiring and creating awareness on sex, drugs and youth empowerment mostly in schools and marginalised areas.

“Campus offers the room for talents and hobbies to blossom but many students bury their non-academic aspirations. It is not supposed to be that way. This is the time that younger generations are at the peak of their energies, creativity, freedom and support to experiment with the many things you would have wished to do in high school but were stifled, thus giving you a lot of time to juggle both studies and a side-hustle,” Gakeni explains.

“Time management has been my priority as I struggle to survive in the industry and still do well in school. This has seen me enroll for evening classes and during the day I concentrate on my business and music. So far I have been doing well in school, my grades are great and I am actually thinking of applying for another Bachelor’s degree in Fashion and Design in a couple of months,” bubbly Gakeni adds on.

Most of the time, many students, in our campuses have barely three lessons a day. Essentially only a half a day is covered and the rest is normally wasted on watching movies or playing FIFA. This time can be utilised effectively to generate some income while honing your skills that can prove worthwhile in your future endeavors.