Introduction:
Wow! What an outstanding legacy wanders around for more than 181 years here! So was the feeling when I stepped into this great heritage college. People say a lot about this college, and one of the things is the discipline for which the college is known. Discipline is the mother of St. Joseph’s College. Students learn not only in the academic realm but also numerous life lessons. Sometimes, we conjecture it is not essential, but it is as important as academic lessons. This St. Joseph College assures us and makes sure that discipline and education should go hand in hand.
My Experience:
My life on this campus has been a memorable one since July 2024. The remarkable past of this college and its vigorous spirit in educating both the rich and the poor enslaved me to fall into the aesthetic legacy of this college. I was thrilled to be a part of it. Knowing the facilities and the infrastructure provided in this college mesmerized me. This is the platform where all the students are invited to explore the possibilities and opportunities and subsequently exhibit their talents.
I see a lot of activities going on in every department with students participating and carrying off the prize. It is not a matter of bagging the prize but of using our talent at the right time and at the right place, as John Milton, the great poet, did even after losing his eyesight. Opportunities are given to everybody. Those who desire to be successful in their lives participate in all the programs. Medals are awaiting those who are sitting merely.
As time passed, I befriended many colleagues from different departments and started building a strong bond and rapport with them all. As the world is evolving at an unimaginable speed at the cost of technology, our college also organizes programs on numerous occasions for students with generous faculty members who are ready to sacrifice their own precious time for the welfare of the students in the college at large. It’s a hectic task to arrange a program for the students, yet the staff do it out of love and care. If a plant has to grow well, first of all, the soil has to be fertile. Similarly, the faculty members of this college were and are the main pillars for making such a long heritage because of their unwavering commitment and especially love for the college and its students. To beef up our college and our surroundings, we require these faithful staff to provide a powerful education. Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." Let us make it true with our industrious work.
Our college sounds like an industry where it produces all sorts of products at different levels and sells them all over the world. Here, the products symbolize our students, the men, for others, not for themselves and for their selfish motives. This college made so many young hearts find the right paths in their lives and made them champions by making them aware of their talents. There are thousands of students who apply for applications in this college; all are not selected, but only a few of the thousands.
Life on Campus:
In our school days, if we get a free hour, we can’t go out, but here in the college during free hours, we should go out when there is a free hour, or else other classes will be disturbed by naughty behaviours. My friends and I straight away go to the Nutri Corner, or else very rarely we go to the library. This has been our routine during our free hours. One day I saw a group of students sitting under the famous tree called ‘kadailai maram’. The weather was also so pleasant and conducive for them to sit and discuss. I immediately had a chuckle of delight after seeing them sitting under that tree. The entire campus is about 100 acres. There are pretty places here where we can plod along the scenery. There are places to enrich our calibre, and there are venues just to relax and chat with our companions. If you see people sitting in the positive corner, they will always be discussing something and studying together. I seldom prefer this venue.
Shepherd Program:
I would like to emphasize that one of the important jobs we do in our college is the "shepherd program." This is the ground reality where students are exposed to the true nature of the destitute people and their lifestyle. Going for the Shepherd program is mandatory for all the students of shifts one and two. They enjoy this program. They impart knowledge to the poor children through conducting some games and while teaching them something beneficial. This experience teaches them a lot about themselves and others. It involves not feeling sympathy but empathizing with them. This is what they say with a connotative meaning: “You have to fly as well as you have to be down to the earth.”
If I pen down everything the indelible encounters at this college, it will go for a volume. I restrain myself by this. Resources are available and awaiting us. It is in our hands how we are going to make use of them in our day-to-day lives. To win over the enemy, we need to know the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy. Likewise, to compete with the innovations of technology, such as AI and other software, we must equip ourselves with the equal power of the technology. We must stimulate ourselves to sharpen our brains to face the ramifications that are unseen on our path. This St. Joseph’s College is not merely a college but full of knowledge. The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing as told by Walt Disney. Never be struck by the failures; rise, and let’s march ahead with our heads held high.