It was a day of fatigue in June 1966 – The whole day my father and I were standing in line to get admission in the Jesuit Hr Sec School in Dindigul. Towards evening we managed to get admission. Immediately we went for admission in the hostel – The Director told us that I should immediately join the hostel, though I did not have any books, clothes, not even bedding. I still remember sitting in the study, without knowing what to do. My desk-mate took pity on me and gave me a book to read and it was in English – At that time, it was Greek to me as I was fresh from village. I appreciated his spontaneous gesture of good will. We became good friends and both of us later joined the Jesuit Order.
The first gift we find in the hostel is friends who would stand with us even after our parents have gone off for their eternal reward. I picked up the habit of hard work and grew up to become a man of excellence in study. The very atmosphere helped me to study well – The hostel creates excellent milieu for the inmates to study well. And I am sure in LOHO so many opportunities are given for additional teaching, mentoring, counseling, spiritual inputs.
I could see life in two parts: time in the hostel and time after the hostel. Whatever we learn in the hostel, we practice for the rest of our lives. The friends are our treasures: I keep in touch with some of my friends even today: I think of my 9th standard companion who is in business near Madurai; I think of my PUC friend who is in the USA. You become an extended family member. Of course, when we leave the hostel, the most difficult thing is to leave our friends. But think of meeting them again, after a few months, even after a few years. In the inspiring book Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, the author Richard Back describes how the Seagull is trained by an excellent fellow Seagull to fly farther, faster, and higher. One day, the trainer wants to take leave of Jonathan. Jonathan feels lonely. But his friend tells him: Jonathan, I have to go other places to train others like you. But think of the day when we shall meet again – And feel the immense joy we both would enjoy when we meet again. We cannot have that joy, unless we go our ways today. Soon the final year students would leave the campus but think of your meeting your friends sometime, somewhere – The world is too small.
You have earned good friends in the hostel – Keep up the unique friendship. Have quality time for them, especially to talk to them or even to visit them. Wealth and power might come and go but good friends are our immovable treasures. Share your joys and sorrows with your friends – When you falter they would hold you firm. They would accompany you all through. Every hostel day reminds us: Make friends and keep friendship.
Other than winning friends, we are here in the hostel to excel in studies. Loyola offers you excellent education. I agree that education is an uphill task. You struggle to climb the steep hill of education, when you finally complete the studies you think that you have reached the summit of the hill. But then you see another higher and steeper hill, that is the life-hill. Once again you begin your journey of climbing that mountain. Here only the friends would come along and here during this journey of struggle and challenge, all you have learnt would come to your help. Finally you reach the summit of the life-mountain: Then, think of the best view you would have after your climbing up the mountain.
What you have learned in Loyola College and what you have experienced in LOHO is the spirit of magis, that is, ever to excel. “Excellence is not about working extra hard to do what you are told. It is about taking the initiative to do work you decide is worth doing” (T. Henry, Die Empty, Penguin, New York, 2015, p.95). Do not wait for others to draw the life-map for you – You just follow the map felt within you. The compass to follow in life in your inner voice – Follow that feeble voice and you would reach your destination. While you follow the inner map, keep your focus on the possibilities and not on certainties. Looking for possibility makes you a creative entrepreneur, leading you to newer pastures.
Remember that growth is always painful, at times messy. But be willing to stretch yourselves in order to accept new challenges. Of course, there is always the possibility of failure but take risk and you would become great and successful. Keep running towards your goal – If you cannot run, then keep walking. If that also becomes difficult, keep crawling. Keep moving forward always. Wish you all the best in your life. Happy LOHO day.
Francis P Xavier SJ
29 Feb 2020