With a bag slung over a shoulder, a swagger that’s somehow lost in over-sized clothes, and a nonchalant attitude towards everything: That’s the adult’s stereotypical image of the average teenager. But if you look beyond the grunge, you’ll find youngsters who know exactly what they want, and how to get it. Youngsters, who have cashed in on their talent and have decided to make money.

“Today, teenagers dream of retiring at 40.They try to get to the destination by different routes, not necessarily of the conventional kinds,” says Profesor Ruby Pavri of St Xavier’s College. Maybe it’s the idealism of youth that pushes them; the belief that anything is achievable has yet to be squelched out of them by an office-bound society. Or perhaps the competitiveness of the real world has infiltrated the college campus. Either way, these entrepreneurs demand to be taken seriously, and the profit margins of their home-grown firms reflect that seriousness.

The result is the phenomenon of the T-CEO — the teenage CEO. He or she is an average kid, who has morphed into the role of the young entrepreneur, while simultaneously dealing with the pressures of college life. From market research firms to event management companies, this new breed of college students has figured out what many adults still find elusive — how to make money out of something you love.

In their quest for success, they have the support of parents and teachers. Madhuri Raijada, a BMM teacher says, “Students take up jobs because they’re very creative. Studying has to go beyond the textbook. Instead of wasting time, they are trying to enhance their knowledge.”

The urge to succeed, along with the knowledge that failure at this point is acceptable, is what motivates them. While some freelance, others have taken it a couple of steps forward by starting companies, hiring people and networking. Word-of-mouth, they say, is their strongest ally — and with vast friend circles, contacts, and the use of social networking sites, these young CEOs get plenty of business.

Juggling the demands of college life with those of their clients is not easy, and requires a skill and time management. “Managing a company will definitely take away time and energy,” concedes Pavri. But it’s well worth the effort. “If you really want to succeed, there is no substitute for work experience,” she says.

Parents are happy that their kids are “making something of their lives”. Says Sylvia Coutinho, whose son Edsil runs an event management company: “We always encourage him. As long as he assures me that it is not at the cost of his studies, it’s fine.” Nandlal Chitroda, a father of budding entrepreneur Vidit Chitroda, advises parents to give their children support and they will do their best.

And teenagers are giving it their best. Drive, the willingness to experiment, and the knowledge that there’s only so much books can teach you, and only so far that marks can take you, make their endeavours a success.