N.C.C. Training:

Most of the colleges offer National Cadet Corps training, free of cost, to their students, supported fully by the Government of India, Defence / Services. N.C.C. training imparted by the Defence Officers, inculcates severe discipline, physical and mental fitness, National and team spirit. Attending training sessions, drill, weapons -training, attending camps, staying in tents, night patrol and participating in many military activities creates a high level of confidence and toughness to the participants. It is an opportunity that should not be missed by any student.

In addition, the N.C.C. Certificate obtained after passing the required tests, makes the student eligible for many concessions for higher studies and jobs. For a career in Defence Services, it is almost a passport. Students who pass special trainings such as Navy, Air-wing, Engineers or Medical wing are eligible for appointment into Officers cadre in Services ,as soon as they complete their Graduation studies (after the basic physical tests).
 Defence Services provide excellent Career opportunities for growth, National recognition and pride, give a chance to travel, adventure, many perks and a short span of compulsory employment. They are eligible for full retirement benefits at an early age, giving them scope for seeking further employment with good additional remuneration in many civil jobs. “Retired” Army personnel are favoured for important jobs by various private organizations.
For those not interested in joining Defence Services as career, many
Institutions and Universities offer special quota in seats for N.C.C. trained students in their higher studies.

SPORTS AND GAMES:

These can be classified into Team games and Individual events. They can be further divided into Out-door and In-door games.
Out-door Games: Participating in out-door team games like foot-ball, volley-ball, basket-ball, cricket and hockey ensure good physical fitness, essential for a healthy mental growth. They will also help to develop personality factors like Team-spirit, Leadership, and “Sportsmanship”, the ability to take defeat gracefully.
                            
Talented sportspersons like Sachin Tendulkar, Saina Nehwal, Abhinav Bindra, Sania Mirza not only become popular icons, celebrities and Idols for the young, but also prosper through endorsing (advertisements). Many also find lucrative “jobs” in popularity-conscious Corporations, which fully support their activities.

Participating in individual games like Shooting, Athletics, Swimming, Tennis and Badminton ensure healthy body development and freedom from many common ailments in the later years of life.

Indoor games/sports: Players of games like Chess, Carroms etc develop high levels of concentration which finds automatic use in other areas of their career. They provide useful diversion from serious studies for the talented. Starting early from school age, persons like Vishwanathan Anand, Humpy, Harika, Harikrishna have attained International Grand Master status, gaining name, fame and
prosperity- both for them as well as for India.
Due to the high level of competition among Corporates, many top organizations regularly scout for potential Spots persons, who are likely to become celebrities to endorse their products and services. Some organizations, especially Public Sector, do it as a part of their “Social Responsibility”.

(SEE THE RECENT AD FOR SPORTS QUOTA RECRUITMENT IN BOX APPEARED IN “THE HINDU” recently given at the end of the article)

The conclusion from the above is that students who have aptitude and talent for any sport , should not ignore or sacrifice it to concentrate only on the studies. With effort, they can develop their interest to the level of career-assistance, without leaving studies.

DOING PART-TIME JOBS / ASSIGNMENTS:
The practice of doing part-time jobs during free time by college-going students is a common practice in U.S.A and many European countries. This practice not only helps them earn to support their needs, but also inculcates the dignity for labour and the value of self-earned money. Many jobs of helpers during rush hours in libraries, petrol-bunks, hotels and supermarkets are available to college students. It is noticed that in a few Metros in India also this welcome practice is prevalent.

* Many Marketing Organizations need persons to conduct surveys for awareness, promotion and acceptance of their products by customers, on part-time payments.
                         
* Many News papers and Journals pay for articles and other features focusing youth. Fashion and Entertainment Journals pay well for youth-oriented news items, opinions, photos etc.
 
SOCIAL SERVICE:
* Those students who are not interested in earning money can enhance their humanitarian skills by doing service in their free time to needy patients in hospitals, elders in Old-age homes and other under-privileged persons.              
* Engaging in adult education programs labourers and others who cannot afford regular schooling is a major avenue for using spare time of college students. It gives them great satisfaction and earns respect and gratitude.

* Helping in civil, sanitation and general welfare activities in the neighborhood in the free time provides appreciation and good-will of the society. It will create good opportunities in later career, apart from the satisfaction.

TUITIONS:
There is a high demand for tuitions in subjects like Maths, Science, English and Hindi from the parents of high school-going children (from class 7th to 10th). Inspite of the good standard of teaching in school, many children need individual coaching in some subjects. This need is further magnified due to the competition to get good marks, which can be exploited by college students.
 My daughter started giving tuitions as soon as she passed her Inter, while studying B.Sc. in a college. She used her free time from 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm to teach school students in the neighborhood in varying batches of 4 to 6 at a time. She not only earned money for pursuing her costly hobbies of Oil- painting and learning music but also the gratitude and social acceptance. She continued her “tuitions” even during her Post-graduate studies (MCA) teaching “computer skills” to college students and house-wives and  engineering College students with confidence.

HELPING FAMILY BUSUNESS :
In the earlier decades, children of owners used to automatically participate and later take over family-run business. It is observed that recently this trend has changed. Once educated in college, children seek outside jobs, neglecting family business. Children of even successful business owners seek employment in U.S.A- preferring even menial jobs as second-rate citizens, instead of using their education to develop family business in India.
With the grave unemployment situation and competition for jobs, the college going students, who have opportunity in family business, should work part-time, during their free hours in such business. This will help them to gain valuable skills and trade secrets, without the risk of failure. It will help them greatly to develop their family business later, expand or diversify. This is possible in businesses like shops, stores, nursing homes, Service agencies etc.
Even if they do not continue in the same business, this apprenticeship/training will provide them valuable business skills, which can be used profitable later.

CONCLUSION: 
Many avenues exist now for college going students to spend their free time usefully, adding value and even earning money, without sacrificing their studies. Depending on the aptitude, they should select and do this to become successful in later Career and benefit the Society.