Friday, February 20, 2015

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE TO SECOND PUC STUDENTS (20th Feb, 2015)


Dear teachers and students,
                                       Seeds sown in St Josephs will be reaped later.
Our college years seem to have passed in a flurry of activities: classes, games, extra curricular activities, social events and lesson learned. It is hard to believe that you will be leaving us to face new horizons and challenges. 
Some of us may stay closer to home, some may move slightly further away and yet others may find themselves in a totally different continent.
Where ever you may find yourself and what ever challenge you may have chosen to follow and explore - hold true to what shaped your yesterdays; acknowledge and appreciate what you are today and dare to be all that you can be tomorrow!
As you finish your education in st josephs, we need to express our gratitude for the wonderful opportunities that we were exposed to. Our thanks must go to all the staff and the management. We are privileged to have attended this college. St Josephs offers a world class education - of that we have no doubt. As we make a relatively smooth transition into life beyond school, I am sure that the fine education that we received will stand us in good stead - time and again.
We did have various challenges, hiccups and problems. New syllabus, late arrival of text books, tragic death of Nayana, cancellation of the Annual Day at the last moment, new department rules, etc did make us feel bad and sad. No student this year got the coveted award of JOSEPHITE OF THE YEAR 2015 inspite of having brilliant and  highly talented students and leaders. We have learnt from these experiences and have become wiser and richer in wisdom. We learn from failures, and not from success.
Today, we stand on the brink of a new chapter in our lives. Take a moment to reflect on everything that we have achieved. Take a moment to look back and to see and appreciate just how far we have all come. Today is our opportunity to acknowledge our accomplishments. 
We have achieved so many things. Winning the state level and participating in the national level football made every member of St Josephs family very proud. We have grown with every experience in St Josephs. We have become better persons. We have become caring human beings.
Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. Today we choose life. Every morning when I wake up, I can choose joy, happiness, negativity and pain. To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. Make a right choice, my dear students. Your life will be full of choices. I’m telling you, it’s not going to be easy to make right choice.
Education is not an act of acquiring knowledge but learning a skill to lead life and forming one’s personality. This is an ennobling process of growth. I can boldly say that we have excelled in every initiative that we undertook and we have stood together in facing the challenges in realizing quality education. In all this, we have made every effort to be sensitive and compassionate to the marginalized and the people in need. This has been the unique character of St Josephs Education. I feel happy when the bright and talented students perform remarkably well. However what makes me happier is when a weak student from a rural background progresses. We are one of the few institutions welcome any student with no cutoff percentage.
I would like to thank everyone for the support that we have received over the past two years. One of our real strengths at St Joseph is our staff. Our teachers and office staff are second to none. They are experienced, professional and caring. You have learned a lot from them during your time here and you will be taking those experiences and lessons with you as you move on.. Our lecturers truly do a lot of extras to provide improved opportunities for all of our students at college. I truly have one of the best jobs in the world. Our students never cease to amaze me! They are creative, energetic, thoughtful, kind and resilient. We had very talented students this year. We are going to miss the kids but I know they are in a wonderful situation and are very fortunate to be part of such a fantastic college.
We are going to miss all of you. Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail. I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. Thank you for being wonderful students.
Again, I want to thank you for the support, the understanding and all the wonderful memories that I have of our school over the past two to five years! I will be looking forward to seeing all our students. You are always welcome to St Josephs.  Forget the hurts, and cherish the good moments in St Josephs.
May I end with a little prayer for you.
May God give you….
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

We love you all!

Br Hector Pinto


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