STRANDOMS: the stray and random thoughts
March 29,2020
Prof. S. Ramkumar
Education
Follow the 4 Ds: the future path will follow you
The theme focuses on what students may have to focus in their graduate studies during college days. This is applicable to any course of formal study, in any subject, in any college. This is a brief based on my talk as the Dean, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research (RIVER) on 12 September 2018, to the new undergraduate students of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, who are the 25th batch of students since the inception of this College/Institute.
Congratulations.
You are the fortunate few who could make entry into a profession that is one among the best a student can dream of. That too in Puducherry, a landscape with unparallel history and heritage, and, in one of the best Institutes, RIVER: green, serene and beautiful. What more can you ask for a starter!
We may find three categories of students in this lot today.
- A few of them who have opted for some other courses; couldn’t get it; and so little worried.
- A few of them who have opted for some other courses; couldn’t get it; but OK with any course, and so this too.
- Students who passionately dreamt of taking up veterinary science, and happy to make it. (This number is increasing over years , its around 70% of admission nowadays)
With around 40 years of affiliation to this professions and the field of education, and having an opportunity to serve in different positions in and out of our Nation, I am yet to find a profession that gives diversity of opportunities to aspirations of students. It is not the profession, its you who have to decide on how and what you want to do in this noble profession. Sky is the limit.
So, please keep the “bag of worries” outside the Campus. Enter with a determined and clear mind. This is a Campus meant to build great minds.
Over the next five and a half years our Campus (which includes the committed faculty/mentors and other professionals) aims at the following 4 Ds.
- Discover: Travelling though the portals of this Institution and the 18 Departments helps you to explore yourself; understand your abilities and aspire for what suits best for you in life and profession.
- Develop: Use the years of your stay to study well and improve the competence. Competence, (a) to have the foundation skills and knowledge in the veterinary profession and (b) in the soft skills such as communication, technologies of relevance, getting connected to society, social commitment, confidence building.
- Decide: While doing 1 and 2 above, decide during the last year of your education here on what you really want to do and how to do it. See that what you decide matches your personality and aspirations, and also the point of reference. Travel, reading (books and materials other than the subject ones also) and limited research experiences help you to have a wider outlook of the world and to place yourself in that.
- Dedicate: The 2nd D focuses on skills and knowledge in the subject. Dedication aims at building of “attitude” during the College days. This attitude helps to dedicate yourself to family, society, Nation and above all to the profession. The first 3 Ds mould the 4th and most important D.
My learning from Life (not explained in detail here) shared with the students.
- Don’t think of JOBS on day-one of the course. Think of 4 Ds and become a responsible and great human being. Enjoy the education and focus on jobs during later years when you are competent in discovering yourself. You will find your path as you complete the course or the path will find you!
- Be the best wherever you go. Profession is great and noble. What we want to do with the profession is left to us.
- Believe in yourself, and the world believes you(the 4Ds in College help you to believe and build confidence).
- Success is not a chance – its a passion fuelled by enthusiasm and driven by dedication.
- Be disciplined. Discipline doesn’t mean curtailing freedom. Discipline is “responsible freedom”- the freedom that helps you build yourself into the best citizen.
- Don’t worry about the proficiency in English. Work on it and improve it. You will succeed.
- Eat well. Health is primary. You need energy and health to be exemplary students and to be dedicated veterinarians.
- Learn from mistakes. Improve yourself.
- Involve in all activities possible: a. they bring the world to the Campus and, b. help you to bring out the talents and abilities in you. Arts, sports, village visits, working with field veterinarians, water and wildlife conservation, swatch bharath, climate change, red-ribbon, farmers issues many to name. A good graduate should know what’s happening in the world around.
- Look up at the Alumni – an amazing group of dedicated veterinarians performing brilliantly in Pudcuherry, Nation and the globe in various capacities. They started entering this campus from 1994.
All the best to build the foundations of learning for the life and profession.