Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
University applications are a nightmare; they test every ounce of what your 16 years of existence are worth. From eighth grade class president to animal activist, the sheet soon fills up with cramped writing.
But when it comes to the section on work experience, most applicants from Bahrain tend to leave the dozen dotted lines as it is. This is due to the sole reason that teenagers in Bahrain are unable to find jobs in order to work part time.
In other countries,17-year-olds manning food counters in restaurants and drive-through's or assisting at the library desk is not an uncommon sight. Besides some extra cash to get them through the week, they work for the experience that accompanies undertaking such responsibilities.
University applications ask for information about previous employment, not for assessing intellectual capacities but, to evaluate perseverance, responsibility and dedication that the individual possesses.
Thus, it is indeed a pity that Bahrain does not offer a great scope of employment opportunities for the young.
A poor misconception in Bahrain is that the idea of spending hours flipping burgers or waiting at tables is below their dignity. The truth of the matter is that even the simplest of jobs are character-building and at the end of the day, rewarding. And, getting your well-deserved pay-cheque after a gruelling month of hard work is an extra bonus.
Even the concept of summer internship is not fully developed here, restricting eager teenagers with no work on their hands from doing something productive through their listless months of slumber and marathon movie watching.
With the mounting pressure, endless piles of homework, infuriating tests and not to mention, extra research and exams, one would think we would be trying to bite off more than we can chew, asking for a job.
But, that's exactly the point; managing time, balancing work and working hard to make sure everything is done and ready in time. It's preparing us for the real world, when we step out of the safe haven we have found in this comfort bubble.
Hopefully, the Bahrain government will look into this issue as it can tap and harness some fresh potential. After all, we've been informed that we're the leaders of tomorrow; we'd like to get a head start and go ahead and practice ... and maybe even make some money along the way.
