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“In order to go to school I need fees, and I need a job to pay for those fees.” The daily routine of an Indian student pulls back the curtain on the stressful life that international students face.
‘Main Ek Loop Mein Phas Chuki Hu’: Indian student in Canada reveals the constant cycle of fees and work
Who doesn’t dream of going to Canada, working and living their best life in a new country? But this “Canadian dream” is getting a heavy dose of reality on social media. Sure, the brochure promises world-class degrees and stunning views, but for Indian student Jyoti Kharayat, there’s a grittier, more caffeinated reality.
In a video that is currently being shared widely, Jyoti explains the 22 themes that define the experience of immigrant students. “Jin ki liye school fees chahya, ki li kaam chahya fees” (you need fees to go to school, you need to work to pay the fees),” she explains.
Her routine is a literal cycle: school, Starbucks, home, back to school in the morning, and Starbucks again. It’s a schedule that doesn’t leave much room for the “college life” the movies depict, yet Jyoti remains surprisingly upbeat, adding a poignant caption to her video: “But at least I’m happy.”
The comments section became a hub for aspiring students and current expats, reflecting a mixture of admiration and fear of the job I had landed. “If you’re happy that’s enough for life 🙌,” one user wrote, while another noted: “We all need motivation from you.”
But the reality of Canada’s competitive part-time work scene is not lost on anyone. One user jokingly (but mostly seriously) said, “Muje bi starbucks me kaam dila do🥲🙃” (Get me a job at Starbucks too).
27 April 2026 at 11:03 IST
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