Baroda: June 11, 2013: STUDENTS' VALUE ORIENTATION PROGRAM
Over two hundred and fifty five students belonging to STDs X and XII from don Bosco High School and Junior College, Baroda took part in a Value Education Orientation Program. Fr. Tony Pinto, Rector and Principal of the institution welcomed Fr. Glenford and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes to animate the school program. The students were really excited about the whole program, it was the first of its kind in the history of the school.
Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, AVEC Project Coordinator began the session with a
Prayer Song, ‘Sarveshaam Swastir Bhavatu’ – imploring God’s blessing
of abundance, health, peace and life on one and all. This was followed by a
‘fantasy meditation’ that invited the students to focus on their breath of life
and to calm down. The students really involved themselves fully into this
session. One could see a deep sense of seriousness and participation in the
meditation. Mr. Fernandes then introduced Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb to the students
Fr. Glenford Lowe began by challenging the students to honestly look at
their ‘Value Compass’ of life. “What gives you a meaning and sense of direction in your life?” he kept asking
the students. “Without a ‘Value Compass’ one can barely survive another
day. Values give us the direction in life to live beyond mere survival”.
Through a number of personal examples and testimonies, interactive discussions,
insightful PowerPoint Presentations coupled with heart rendering video clips,
the students were challenged to look at their life honestly and to ‘reconstruct
their Value Compass’. “No matter how broken your past life was or how battered,
torn or abused... you can start afresh. Today is an opportunity to begin anew.
Let you choice be for Values”, he insisted.
In the second part of the
session, in challenging the students to get 'MAD - Make A Difference', Fr.
Glenn invited to students to stop living a 'life of mere survival' and start
living a 'life of Meaning and Significance' by using the Twelve Diamond
Values. "With this Value compass in Life you can never get lost", he
said. He focused on the need to : Ask Meaning Questions, Have a Winner
Attitude, Think TEAM, Effective Communication, Exude Confidence, Hone
Creativity, Motivation and Leading Others, Accept Criticisms, MultiTasking and
Keep Schedules, Tell the Truth about Money, Live a Balanced Life and Think
Abundance!
After the session a number of students came forward to write their words of appreciation in the AVEC log book:
"Amazing personality I ever met in my life, he taught us how to live life meaningfully" - Sabina S, Nair XII
"I know now the main points for success in life and his views gave a great spark to my life ahead" - Vrunda H. Patel XII
"Amazing seminar we ever had" - Annu Paswan XII
"Loved listening to Fr. Glenn. Very inspirational talk" - Karamjeet Singh XII
"This was a great session taken by Fr. Glenford. Yesterday only i failed in 3 subjects, but now I think I will go MAD and embrace success" - Vignesh Nadar XII
"It was pretty much good and very much inspiring and I felt wonderful. Thank you for giving us your great time" - Sadhnani Aakash XIII
"Awesome experience. I loved to listen to him also I learned to make success as my best friend" - Digvijaysingh S. Thakur XII
"He has a pure heart and knows the feelings and emotions of the students. He was very inspirational" - Gokul Nair XII
'It had very motivating ideas and it touched our hearts" - Aditya Swaranka X
"I think that there is nothing in life without Values" - Panan Susyavanshi X
"A very inspiring session" - Paul Thomas X
"Really thrilling experience and got a very beautiful message" - Rohit Gaurang, Amey Deshpande X
"
Thanks to all the students of Don Bosco High school and Junior College, Baroda. You were all very enthusiastic and eager to participate whole heartedly in the session. I pray God's blessings on you all as you progress towards your final examinations.