By Pius Ashima

“When the stream dries up, the fish must learn to survive in the mud.” This old saying mirrors the reality of many students today. In an economy where the cost of living rises faster than family incomes, young people are discovering that earning a degree is no longer their only challenge, survival itself has become part of the curriculum.

At dawn, while some students prepare for lectures, others are already arranging deliveries, responding to customers, baking pastries, designing graphics, or advertising products online. Their classrooms may be filled with lectures and assignments, but their minds are often occupied with sales targets, transportation costs, and the next source of income.

For many students, the journey through higher education is no longer a straight path from lecture halls to graduation. It is a daily balancing act between academic ambition and economic reality. Faced with rising tuition-related expenses, inflation, and increasing financial pressure on families, students are transforming themselves into entrepreneurs, freelancers, and part-time workers, all while pursuing their degrees.

What was once considered an option has now become a necessity. Across campuses, the marketplace has become an extension of the classroom, where lessons in economics, resilience, and survival are learned firsthand.

The image of the average student has changed significantly over the years. Gone are the days when most students depended entirely on allowances from parents or guardians. Today, many students have become business owners, content creators, tutors, fashion vendors, photographers, hairstylists, and digital freelancers.

A walk through many university campuses reveals a thriving informal economy. Hostel corridors double as mini-shops. Social media platforms serve as virtual marketplaces where students advertise everything from clothing and cosmetics to food and academic services.

For many, these ventures are not driven by a desire for luxury but by necessity. Rising transportation costs, expensive textbooks, accommodation fees, internet subscriptions, and feeding expenses have made it increasingly difficult for students to depend solely on family support.

Twenty-one-year-old Esther, a Mass Communication student, runs an online fashion business alongside her studies.

“My parents try their best, but things are not easy,” she says. “The money they send cannot cover all my needs. Selling clothes helps me pay for handouts, internet data, and other expenses.”

Like Esther, thousands of students across the country have entered the world of entrepreneurship not because they planned to, but because economic realities have left them with few alternatives.

Balancing academics with business activities is often easier said than done. For many students, each day is carefully planned around lecture schedules and customer demands. A lecture may be interrupted by calls from clients. Study sessions are often followed by product deliveries or online consultations. Some students spend their evenings attending to customers and their nights preparing for examinations.

The challenge becomes even greater during examination periods.

Michael, an Economics student who operates a small graphic design business, explains the pressure.

“There are days when I have three assignments to submit, clients waiting for designs, and tests coming up. Sometimes I barely sleep because I am trying to meet every deadline.”

Such experiences have become common among student entrepreneurs. The struggle to balance two demanding responsibilities often leads to physical exhaustion and emotional stress. Yet many students continue because they view their businesses not merely as a source of income but as a lifeline.

Interestingly, many students argue that their economic activities have taught them lessons that cannot be found in textbooks. Running a business requires communication skills, financial discipline, customer management, negotiation, marketing strategies, and problem solving abilities. These practical experiences often complement theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom.

Students who sell products learn the principles of profit and loss firsthand. Freelancers develop professional communication skills. Digital entrepreneurs gain valuable experience in branding and marketing. In many ways, the marketplace has become another classroom, one without lecturers, examinations, or certificates, but rich in practical lessons.

For some students, these experiences have already begun shaping their future careers. What starts as a small side hustle to survive university often grows into a successful business capable of providing employment opportunities after graduation.

Despite the benefits, balancing education and economic activities comes at a cost. Many students admit that juggling both responsibilities can be mentally and physically draining. Long hours of work leave little time for rest. Academic performance may suffer when business demands become overwhelming.

The pressure of constantly worrying about finances can also affect mental health. Students often find themselves struggling with anxiety, stress, and burnout.

“I am always thinking about money,” says Grace, a final year student. “If it’s not school fees, it’s rent. If it’s not rent, it’s feeding or transportation. Sometimes it feels like there is no room to breathe.”

The emotional burden is often intensified by the fear of failure. Students worry about failing academically while simultaneously fearing that their businesses may not generate enough income to meet their needs. This constant balancing act creates a unique form of pressure that many young people face in silence.

The growing trend of student entrepreneurship also reflects the broader economic challenges facing families. Many parents who once comfortably funded their children’s education are now struggling with rising living costs. Inflation has reduced purchasing power, making it increasingly difficult to provide adequate support.

As a result, students are stepping in to bridge the financial gap. Some contribute to their own school expenses, while others support siblings and even assist their parents financially. In some households, students have become important contributors to family income. This shift demonstrates how economic challenges affect not only individuals but entire families.

Although economic hardship has created difficulties, it has also encouraged innovation and resilience among young people. Students are increasingly embracing technology to create opportunities for themselves. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for business promotion, while digital skills such as graphic design, video editing, content creation, and programming offer new income streams.

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances has become one of the defining characteristics of today’s students. Many have learned to identify opportunities where others see obstacles. Through determination and creativity, they continue to pursue their educational goals despite financial challenges.

While students have demonstrated remarkable resilience, many observers believe they should not carry the burden alone. Educational institutions, government agencies, and private organizations all have important roles to play in supporting students. Scholarship opportunities, affordable accommodation, entrepreneurial grants, student-friendly loan programs, and flexible work-study arrangements can help reduce financial pressure.

Providing students with access to mentorship, business training, and mental health support can also improve their ability to balance academic and economic responsibilities effectively. Investing in students is ultimately an investment in the future workforce and economic development of the nation.

The journey from classroom to marketplace tells a powerful story about the realities of modern student life. It is a story of determination in the face of hardship, ambition in the midst of uncertainty, and resilience under pressure.

Today’s students are no longer learning only from textbooks and lectures. They are learning from customers, markets, budgets, and real world challenges. Every sale completed, every service rendered, and every obstacle overcome becomes part of an education that extends far beyond the walls of the classroom.

As economic realities continue to reshape higher education, students remain determined to achieve their dreams. They carry backpacks filled with books and minds filled with business plans. They attend lectures during the day and run enterprises by night.

For this generation, success is no longer measured solely by academic achievement. It is measured by the ability to survive, adapt, and thrive in a world where the classroom and the marketplace have become inseparable parts of the same journey.