Rutuja's Orientation in St. Xavier's

 4-Aug-2023

Today, on 4-Aug-2023, I attended Rutuja's orientation session in her college, St. Xavier's. I was pretty excited about this session. I had almost a similar feeling when I attended her first parent interaction in her school way back in 2010, feels like ages ago.

We got ready for a 9' o clock session and left in our car. Rutuja was reluctant to take Kavita along since the notice clearly mentioned only one parent is allowed. It turned out to be a wise decision. 

In the central hall of the college, there were more than 600 people including students. We were greeted by Chairman of the college Fr. Keith, Principal of College Dr. Rajendra Shinde & Vice Principal Savio D'souza & Vaishali Mohumi. 

The orientation session started with anthem of St. Xavier's college. I was really excited to hear the anthem & the line "you helped me become more me".  All the speakers emphasized on the legacy of the college, its values and off course the modern and liberal culture of the college. It was a nice session with all information about history of college, curriculum, gymkhana, library, exam pattern and student exchange programs with foreign universities. 

They spoke very highly about illustrious alumni who made the college even more famous. It included politicians, solicitors, businessmen, scholars, sportsperson, actors and people from almost all walks of life. They also talked about how college has consistently retained its top rankings in various surveys. Session was nicely interspersed with funny puns. It is easily the best college for Arts stream in Mumbai if not in India. 

Rutuja was also nervous like most, if not all the students. These students were all soaking in the feeling that now they belong to this prestigious institute. They must be feeling overjoyed and nervous at same time, since it is now their responsibility to take the legacy forward. 

Me & Rutuja then took a tour of whole building & also the school building where Rutuja is most likely to attend her college lectures. The library & canteen were obviously two most crowded places with youngsters all around. Very refreshing to see the youngsters with all fashionable clothes, shoes, hair styles and accessories. It was lovely to explore the college having basket ball court & volley ball court right in the center of the building. It has a very classical heritage structure & perfectly suitable for 154 Year old college. 

Just like I was very satisfied after attending very first orientation session in her school, I was mighty happy to be along side her in the college orientation. And needless to say, mighty happy with the choice of college she had made. She studied really hard to achieve an excellent score of 98% (97.6 precisely) with dream of getting into the St. Xavier's. She has finally ticked that box. 

Dear Rutuja, may you enjoy all the college life with curricular, co-curricular & extra-curricular activities in this great institution. I am certainly very pleased with the college & I really hope you will be even a better person when you graduate from this lovely institution. 

God Bless you, Rutuja. May you achieve all that is in your destiny with the necessary hard work & honesty.

And I am thankful to almighty for showing this day. Thank you Dear God.

I pray to almighty that give me a chance to write similar feelings in few years time about her orientation session in some foreign university in Europe, US or anywhere else in the world. Amen !!!