The Person Who Changed My Life

“The Person Who Changed My Life”

The person who changed my life appeared in the form of a Principal of my high school. His name was Rev. Fr. Augustine Thomas S.J. The most inspirational person I’ve met and the most inspirational person I shall ever meet. The first time I heard him talk was during my orientation for +2 (11) in St. Xavier’s College. In the 10 minutes of his speech, he inspired every one present there in the auditorium. Even my parents were really inspired by his speech and they were very happy that I would be graduating under his guidance.

Unlike any other colleges’ principal, he never confined himself between the four walls of the principal’s room. Rather, he was very friendly and interactive with the students. He always encouraged students to be active in extra-curricular activities apart from gaining theoretical knowledge of books. Himself being a basketball player, he used to say that we must always respect the sports we play as we respect the books we read. So, we were never allowed to play basketball or badminton or football in our formal wear. We were supposed to be wearing the jerseys or T-shirt and shorts while playing.

Such a motivational and kind-hearted and down-to-earth kind of person is very rare in today’s world. Unique in his own way, he never really just implied the rules of the college to the students. Rather, he explained very patiently why each rules exists. There were many unusual rules in St. Xavier’s like no availability of buses, no uniform for students, no vehicles allowed for +2 and A-levels students etc. And I found it really weird why is it so. Then he answered to all those queries that were in my mind. And I was speechless. Speechless by the way he thinks, his vision and the way he perceives things.

According to him, availability of buses made the students dependent whereas if the students are asked to come to the college on their own, they will build up the habit of using public transports which...