OCTOBER 9, 2010: OUR LADY OF FATIMA - VIDVAVIHAR, STUDENTS' ORIENTATION PROGRAM
The AVEC team today offered an Orientation Program for over six hundred students of Our Lady of Fatima, Vidvavihar. The students were divided into two batches according to their respective classes. The students of standard Ten were first taken through a session on Twelve important Values for the Journey. After an initial problem with the sound system, the students soon got into the session.
Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes began the session on a firm note. Quite a few students at first showed no signs of interest. The audio wasn't too good either and the projection screen too small. The students slowly got in to the session through an short meditative moment. Fr. Glenn Lowe then took the students through the Twelve Values for the Journey. "You cannot fool all the people all the time and neither can you fool yourself all the time," was a constant refrain that the students kept hearing. "Your life is beyond classroom and academic results, But what you sow today, you will reap for the journey tomorrow," he said.
After both sessions, a number of students took time to come over an seek personal advice on various issues on how to handle stress, refocus on their studies, prioritize their schedules and time and live holistic lives. This was very well appreciated and it reflects on the important questions that students need to clarify. After a four hour marathon session, many of the students came up to write their impressions in the AVEC log book. Given below are some of their impressions:
"It was an enjoyable session. We learnt a lot. We realized that being good in academics is not as important as being good in life. We promise to imbibe the Twelve point Values in our life." - Melnita and Chaitali
"It was very inspirational and useful. Thankyou for coming to our school and helping us cope with various life skills. Hope it works!!! Thank you." - Ankit and group
"It was very good, inspirational and educative. We got to study more about ourselves and our life in general. Thank you to all the resource speakers who instructed us today." - Asfand Shafi Mastan
"It was a very meaningful session. It made me reflect on my life and work. I think it will help me a lot in the future. Thanks a lot for this session." - Akshay Ramesh Nair
"A wonderful and meaningful session. A lot of important messages were received. I got motivated and looking forward to many more such sessions." - Dhulani
"The session was a lot meaningful. It truly inspired me to have a good goal in my future. It truly motivated me and I believe that everyone should attend Fr. Glenn's session. Am sure it would change my future for good." - Maitri Sangoi