"This involves a “cutting away” from the former self – the child, the high school student and the pampered kid back at home" ❤️

The Day Today | Orientation for Freshers (UG)

#reflections

23rd June 2025

Today was a memorable day for all Freshers who stepped into College life for the very first time in their lives.

Anthropologist Arnold van Gennep, calls it, “rites of passage,” identifying three universal stages to this rites of passage. [He introduced the concept in his 1909 book titled, The Rites of Passage.]

The first one is the Preliminal or Separation stage which involves detaching from an earlier fixed point in the social structure. For a college student, this is leaving their home, their school life and their familiar social circle behind, and entering a new stage in their life.

This involves a “cutting away” from the former self – the child, the high school student and the pampered kid back at home.

The second one is the “between” or the liminal stage, where the individual has left their old state but hasn’t yet fully entered the new one. College life, especially the first year, is highly liminal. 

For the first time, the student is far away from direct parental supervision, navigating and experiencing new freedoms and responsibilities, encountering a host of diverse perspectives, and forming new identities. This stage involves a lot of challenges and obstacles that contribute to maturation.

The final one is the Postliminal or the Incorporation stage, when the individual re-enters society with their newfound status and identity. The entire process of adapting to College life and succeeding in college life, culminates in a new sense of selfhood and a readiness for adulthood!

Coming back - 

The Orientation for Freshers started at 8.15 am in the Anderson Hall. Our Principal Dr. Paul Wilson introduced the officials of the College. 

The Dean of Student Affairs, the Controller of Examinations, the Dean of International Programmes among other officials outlined the various features of their respective Units to the students. 

Dr. Huldah Samuel, the Dean of Student Affairs, kept the audience engaged throughout the programme by asking surprise questions to the audience from the presentations of the officials, and also gave them prizes.

Prof. Smilkha, Dept of Visual Communication, and her team did an amazing performance on the visuals front.

Our Principal Dr. Paul Wilson gave a very insightful and panoramic sweep of the various Units and Activities in which students can involve themselves. He gave a suggestion to students to open their CV right on the first day of their college life, and add to their CV each passing day, to see how they have improved their skills over the days.

Citing from Angela Duckworth’s book titled, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, he emphasised on the importance of passion and perseverance for long-term goals.

Duckworth’s definition of grit emphasizes two crucial, intertwined elements:

The first one is Passion. Passion isn’t a fleeting interest, but a deep, enduring commitment to an “ultimate concern” or a goal that gives meaning to almost everything you do. It’s about having a profound interest and ambition that fuels your efforts over time.

The second one is Perseverance, which refers to the ability to maintain effort and stick with a goal despite obstacles, setbacks, and slow progress. It’s about resilience, determination, and the willingness to overcome challenges, rather than giving up when things get tough.

Grit isn’t a fixed trait but it can be cultivated through deliberate practice and by developing a growth mindset and finding purpose and meaning in one’s goals,

he observed.

After the Orientation for Freshers in the Anderson Hall, all three of us in the Office of International Programmes had to rush back to our Office to conduct the interview for students who had applied for Internship with our Office. We had shortlisted 15 students for the interview today.

Today I was so happy to meet with the mother of one of our past vibrant students, Benedicta.

I was so happy to know that, even her dad had studied in MCC in the 1970s, and she had come down from the US to admit her kid in MCC for her UG.

“My Dad’s life was always around MCC,” she said with such happiness on her.

I’ve requested her to give an article for the College Magazine, and she gladly agreed.

More power to you, Ma’am.

I was also happy to meet with Stephanie’s parents today in our Office.

“You have given us gold! She’s such a vibrant and lovely kid who’s been such a great influence on the Office”, I proudly told them. So happy to note that Stephanie has been chosen to do her Semester Abroad in Japan. 

Sabarinathan, our former Global Student Ambassador texted me, saying he was already missing his heaven MCC so much. He had also penned a lovely post for his freshers on his blog here, on his blog. 

His message was so sweet. Giving it here for us, for posterity’s sake!

Was so happy to meet with Pearlina, who had returned from LeTourneau University, Texas, after doing her Semester Abroad there.

I was able to see the visible transformation in her. She was now more forthcoming, mor exuberant and more lively than before.

“Do you see any marked change in you, Pearlina?” I asked her.

“Yes, Sir. Lots. For the first time I was able to live all by myself, far away from my home, family and friends, in a new environment, and for the first time ever I adapted to living in the hostel’, she said.

Felt so happy for her. More power to you, Pearlina. So happy to see a better version of yourself.

Then, Dr. Amirthavalli, our Dean of Quality Assurance, arrived at our Office promptly at 12 pm as promised, and she suggested a few corrections in the International Study Tours Policy Draft.

Her minute attention for details, made me so happy. She took time and patiently explained the need for the corrections. So proud of you dear Ma’am.

Sharp at 1.15 pm we were in time for the Freshers’ Orientation for the students of the Self-Financed Stream. Principal led the Orientation as in the morning.

By 2.30 pm, Principal, HoDs and Deans left for the Academic Council in the Council Room. Today a few important Courses were approved by the Academic Council including a Value-Added Course on Theory of Music. Special congratulations to Dr. Jacob George and Dr. Daniel Evans for making it possible.

The Meeting of the Academic Council got over by 5.30 pm.

However, mid-way I came to the office briefly, to oversee tomorrow’s  Study Abroad Seminar. We have three special guests from abroad for tomorrow’s first Study Abroad Seminar of the new academic year.

Dr. Sanjay Purushotham

International Affairs,

Dallas Baptist University, Texas, US

Ms. Elka Mariam Thomas

Teaching Assistant,

Office of International Studies,

Hoseo University,

South Korea

Dr. Robert C. Williams

Founder and President/CEO,

Pennsylvania Center for International Exchange and Partnership (PCIEP)

PA, USA

To register, students can fill in the Google Form given below.

https://forms.gle/AT64zVE5eTRpokwHA

Due to limited seating, kindly be seated early to secure your spot in the Seminar Hall (by 11.20 am tomorrow).

During Interaction Time, (towards the end of the Seminar), students can have their doubts clarified directly with the speakers.

Students interested in getting more info on opportunities abroad, may join the Whatsapp Channel on this link below.

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAyI1xJJhzgg8Q4GM2i

Finally, special congratulations to dear Rudolph Godson (who did his BA & MA in English in MCC), India's First Visually Challenged Music Director who has composed music with Anirudh and for Actor Vijay, on being featured in today's Dinamalar. 

We are so proud of you dear Godson.