6000 SAC Students & a ‘Campus Dog’ partake in 139th Annual Day Sports Inauguration with Pride
6000 St Aloysius College (Autonomous) Students & a ‘Campus Dog’ partake in 139th Annual Day Sports Inaugural Ceremony with Pride and Gaiety
Mangaluru: Dogs-that’s right! There’s a reason we call them “Man’s Best Friend”. We can learn so many things from a dog’s behavior, personality, demeanor, resiliency, and most importantly, the willingness to provide their family members with unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship down to their very last breath. A dog has the ability to live in the present moment. They don’t regret the past or worry about the future. If we can learn to appreciate and focus on what’s happening in the here and now, we’ll experience a richness of living. In the presence of a dog, somehow, nothing else matters. A dog is handing out pure love, sparing no expense, and asking absolutely nothing in return. There’s consistency, love, and the beauty of life at its finest. Dogs have the ability to sense what’s really going on. Many of us have lost touch with this all-important instinctual part of who we are. By paying attention to nonverbal cues such as body language and energy, we can learn more about our friends, our loved ones, and ourselves.
And me being a dog lover, having four pets at home, I couldn’t resist in clicking few photo-shoots of this cute black colored stray-dog, which has become the SAC Campus dog from the last couple of years, when Fr Swebert D’silva SJ was the Principal, who loved stray dogs, and who had them even in his office ( I heard), and today’s star attraction during the March Past was this cute little four-legged one, walking along with the two-legged, which got the attention of everyone- and it managed to walk three rounds along with the students in the March Past, and finally exhausted relaxed right on the tracks. Funny but strange, that even a dog likes to take part in a March Past- and it is learnt, it was also seen in last year’s sports march past. ( Watch for dog’s pics in the article and photo album) Wow bow! Okay, that’s enough of Dog talk- getting on to the real topic-
It is said, “Talent Wins Games, but Team Work and Intelligence Wins Championships”, and in that spirit 6000 students of St Aloysius College (Autonomous) – Mangaluru, all attired in T-shirts/polo shirts with different logos, and carrying placards with various awareness messages on issues that haunt the society, participated in the March Past to mark the 139th Annual Sports Day, which was held on the St Aloysius Centenary Ground on Wednesday, 12 December 2018 at 9 am.. The Management, staff, teachers and students gathered with great ardour and enthusiasm to witness the Annual Sports Event, under the early morning scorching heat.
The students splendidly marched with pride and elegance in their colorful shirts to mark the opening ceremony led by the students council representatives, where the chief guest Dr Gerald Santhosh D’souza ( Son of Late Benjamin D’souza- the popular Physical Director at SAC)- Assistant Director of Physical education at Mangalore University received the salute, along with guest of honor Raymond D’souza-Bodybuilding Mr World 1990 Champ/Officer at Corporation Bank, Mangaluru; Rector of St Aloysius Institutions Fr Dionysius Vas SJ; Fr Praveen Martis SJ- Principal, SAC; and Ms Precilla D’souza- Coordinator; . A spectacular and well synchronized march-past, accompanied by a lively ‘St Aloysius Higher Primary School’Brass band, shook the ground.
The event began with a prayer invoking God’s blessings rendered by college choir, followed by welcome address by Fr Praveen Martis SJ. Inauguration and the flag hoisting was done by chief guest, along with other dignitaries on the dais. Following the arrival of the Sports Torch carried by the athletes of the College, and the torch that signified the spirit of true sportsmanship, enthusiasm, peace and friendship was lit by the sports team leader. After the unveiling of the flag, the dignitaries inspected each team. The students then pledged the Oath led by the group leaders of the groups that took part in the march past. The oath was administered by two Star athletes- Ishrar Pasha and Miss Venezia Carlo.
In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest Dr Gerald D’souza articulated that one needs to aim high in order to achieve much. “As a Alumnus of this prestigious institution I feel privileged and blessed to be among you all. I remember this ground where I played and ran, and where many sportsmen have made avail of this ground, who are now great athletes/sportsmen representing in the state, national or International level. This is my second home, where I had studied from 1st till I completed my degree. All of us possess at least one talent within us which is to be endured. Small changes in habits can lead to lasting, permanent change, so think “tiny steps” when incorporating exercise into your life. This college has now produced two great athletes, Ishara and Venezia, you all need to follow in their footsteps. Our education system must recognize the importance of engaging students in sports. I really appreciate the eminence and splendour of this sports event, and the commitment and dedication shown by the management and teachers in promoting the interest of sports among the energetic youth. Today’s sport youngsters are future sportsmen/women of the country”.
He further said, “Apart from academics, students should take part in sports and co-curricular activities. If you excel in sports, there are very good chances of getting good jobs. Participation itself is an achievement. Participating is important than winning. Win or lose, you need to accept the challenge. If you lose once, try try again and you’ll succeed. For sports fans, sports are the epitome of hard work work and dedication. To get to the pinnacle of their sport, even the most naturally gifted athletes have to give it their all. The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose. In sports it is not all about winning, but your participation. It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters. I feel happy to be here and watch all you youngsters with full enthusiasm and energy showing full interest in the sport. You all look handsome and pretty. You start at the college level, then you reach the state level, then the national and international. Follow the tradition and culture of this institution. You are the future pillars of our Country. “We can certainly make India an economic super power even before 2020’said Former president Abdul Kalam. So it is you who can do it, and yes you can if you put all your efforts”.
Addressing the gathering, Rector Fr Dionysius Vas SJ said, “It was one of the interesting and impressive March Past that I have ever witnessed, and compliments to all the students, who marched carrying placards with very informative messages. Sports begins with Determination, Desire and Dedication- and I believe that you have all three three qualities. This morning on e senior Jesuit priest said to me that he was thrilled to see students not obese, and that’s a good compliment to you all. Eat healthy and stay healthy. By organizing Sports day, we encourage our youth to be the future sportsmen of the district, state or nation. At St Aloysius Institutions we are doing our best that apart from academics, we will also inculcate co-curricular activities, including sports in our students. Sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence. The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before. Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. Win If You Can, Lose If You Must, But NEVER QUIT!” .
The function was well compered in four different languages,namely by students- Apoorva Shashidhar and Ruby Pinto in English; Crystal Menezes and Sushma Marebal in Kannada; Srushti Salian in Tulu ; and and Angeline D’souza in Konkani. The vote of thanks was proposed by Ms Precilla D’souza, the sports coordinator. The management and teachers did one heckuva great job in conducting the fabulous inaugural event successfully. Kudos to all for a job well done! The closing ceremony of the Sports Day will be held on the same day at 4 pm, with chief guest Rajgopal Bhat-HOD Chemistry-SAC, and presided over by Principal Fr Praveen Martis SJ. Following the sports inaugural ceremony, the chief guest along with other dignitaries inaugurated the new Gym, Badminton Court, Basket Ball Court and also Vermibin Unit.
In conclusion, Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement. The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning. If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win. Do you know what the favorite part of the sport is? The opportunity to participate. Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. And for that matter, St Aloysius College had taken keen interest in making the students participate in this Sports event. Credit should go to the management, teachers and staff of the School for making their 139th Annual Sports Day successful.
