Australia felt like a dream come true to 19-year-old Srishti Dhupar when she left India to arrive in Melbourne in November last year, to pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology from Deakin University.
Life here started to look even more promising when she landed a part-time job with an education consultancy in January, just three months after her arrival.
But her happiness was short-lived as she found herself in a precarious situation owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Within days, her university migrated to online classes, she was stood down from work with hardly any funds, friends and only books and Netflix to accompany.
“My university switched to online classes, my employer was forced to shut shop due to the lockdown, and because I had just arrived in Australia, I hardly had any friends to help me cope up,” she says.
Highlights:
- Indian student sells hand sanitisers to make ends meet during COVID-19 pandemic
- Srishti Dhupar is pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Melbourne's Deakin University
- “We can survive this together as long as we continue to strive and never give up hope,” says Ms Dhupar
Ms Dhupar says she had come to Australia determined to study. Her motivation was to turn around her own and her family's life that runs a school back in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
'I have never learnt to buckle down in front of challenges'
Srishti Dhupar Source: Supplied
She says things went from bad to worse when the Australian government asked international students facing hardships "to go home."
"It hit me hard but I decided to stay back and try my luck. I did what I have been taught to do in times of adversity by my parents- I pledged to take care of myself," she says.
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Srishti chose to swim against the current and dived in wholeheartedly to look for an interim job until she could return to her part-time role with the consultancy.
“I have never learnt to buckle down in front of challenges. I started looking for work from home options, and that’s when I came across a post on Facebook from a new business owner looking for marketing and sales professionals to sell hand sanitisers and masks. I immediately called him up and asked him upfront for the position.
“Initially he sounded reluctant because he said you don’t even have a vehicle, so how will you deliver the products. But I told him I could parcel them or convince people to pick up the products from my place. He eventually caved in and gave me the job,” says Ms Dhupar.
It’s been a month since Srishti started selling sanitisers, face masks and alcohol wipes from the confines of her home. While she has encountered many challenges on the way, she is happy that she is making enough to fund her daily expenses.
“In terms of money, I haven’t made even half of what I was earning in my previous role. But I am happy nevertheless, that I don’t have to rely on my family to pay my utility bills. In addition, I got a grant from my university which has also helped a great deal,” she says.
Melbourne-based business owner, Raghav Gupta Source: Supplied
'Keep an eye on the light at the end of the tunnel'
Melbourne-based business owner Raghav Gupta who put faith in Ms Dhupar’s abilities and gave her a break says he received at least 30 resumes and numerous calls after he posted the advertisement for the marketing role for his sanitiser-manufacturing start-up on social media.
“While the role needed at least a year of experience in sales and marketing, my team decided to shortlist Ms Dhupar in spite of the fact that she had no experience in the field, because she had the spark and willingness to go the extra mile that’s needed when you’re selling a relatively new product,” he says.
What Mr Gupta perhaps didn’t know is that Srishti isn’t new in this line of business. Last year she tried to launch her own eyelash marketing business which took off quite well but could not survive because of her inability to invest in stock.
Mr Gupta believes Ms Dhupar’s ingenuity and resilience will take her places.
“She is just a 19-year-old who has stepped out of her comfort zone for the first time, but what makes her different from students her age is her resilience in the face of challenges. What prompted us to choose her was a never give up attitude,” he says.
In an inspiring response to the pandemic that has brought life for many particularly international students to a standstill, Ms Dhupar says she believes "we must keep an eye on the light at the end of the tunnel."
Indian student Srishti Dhupar Source: Supplied
"To fellow students in Australia struggling to make ends meet, I'd say we can survive this - together as long as we continue to strive and never give up hope,” she says.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for food and essential supplies, work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. People are also advised to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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