Fishing for skills
WHEN most teenagers are still lying in bed on a lazy Sunday morning, 17-year-old Kylie Ng is already wide awake before the crack of dawn getting ready to help her family at the wet market in Section 17, Petaling Jaya.
The first thing on her to do list is to prepare the price tags for the fish, which changes daily.
As the day gets busier with more people patronising the stall, she is kept on her toes weighing, packing and collecting payment for the fish until 11am.
Although she only spends once a week at the market, she has picked up many skills including the ability to speak in Cantonese.
She also gets to converse more in Bahasa Melayu as she rarely uses the language with family and friends.
“Another thing I have learnt is the different types of fish, prawns and squid, and their prices.”
Her mathematics skills have also improved as she often has to calculate prices without a calculator.
Although the full-time Foundation in Arts student at INTI International College Subang has been doing this since the age of 16, she has no plans to take over the business her father started 22 years ago.
She wants to work with children instead, either as a kindergarten teacher or a child psychologist.
“I want to pursue a degree in psychology.
“I hope to earn my own tuition fees for a master’s degree and also volunteer to teach in rural areas over the school holidays,” she said.
Unlike the majority of her peers who are only keen on part-time jobs that are in a mall or cafe, she has no qualms about working at the market as times are tough.
“I’ve even offered friends the opportunity to work at the market, but not many are willing to wake up early and put up with a smelly and hot environment.
“These days, teens and college students can also earn money creating videos on YouTube and TikTok, so most prefer these online platforms,” she shared.
Although her father appreciates the extra help, he does not expect his daughter to follow in his footsteps.
“My wife and I will let Kylie choose her career path based on her interest.
“Any degree can be applied and used to expand any business, and creativity can be used to keep it relevant.”
He finds that current employment trends tend to focus on the skills that an individual has.
He said that being in the fish business not only teaches a person social skills but also trains the mind to do mental arithmetic well and builds character.
“Regardless of the industry, whether graduates work in a wet market or a nice office, I believe that IT skills will be essential especially since many are now working remotely and more transactions are being done online. Having a good personality and attitude will also help you succeed at work,” he said, adding that anyone can succeed in anything they are interested in.