St. Joseph's Degree College, Senior Faculty: Dr. G H Olivia Sagar Interview

Dr.G.H.Olivia Sagar is working as an Assistant Professor in English at St.Joseph's Degree College, Kurnool. She completed her Ph.D. from S.K.University, Anantapur. She is a dedicated, resourceful, and qualified teacher who is passionate about the subject as well as enlightening young minds to gain proficiency in the language.

What are the key factors that kept you connected to educational institutes?

“Teaching is my passion, not a profession”

I feel to be a part of the education sector which is a perfect career for me. I am passionate about education because as an educator I can make a positive difference in the lives of young people. As an Educator, I can create a classroom environment that promotes inclusive education where students with additional needs and those without can learn together. Teachers are an essential part of an education team. As I work closely with the students, I can guide them to realize their true potential. Every day I can experience magic in the classroom, witnessing the ‘Light Bulb moment.’ When a student or a young person overcomes a challenge and achieves something they never thought possible. To create a healthy and hygienic atmosphere in the young minds of future pillars of India. As ‘Teaching is not Everybody’s Cup of Tea,’ I am fortunate enough to spread the aroma, beauty of teaching not only in the four walls of the classroom but also to the vast society. This is the platform where my inner strengths come out with colorful victories.

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the institute and the students are?

“Providing students with the best of the skills and knowledge regarding every spectrum of Life”

As a teacher, my sincere role would be to bring out the very best in the students and constantly inspire them to strive for greatness. Students are considered as the future of the nation and humankind, and I strongly believe that a teacher is a credible guide for their advancement. A teacher not only has to guide the students in academics or extracurricular activities, but the teacher is also responsible for shaping a student's future, making him/her a better human being. A teacher imparts knowledge, good values, tradition, modern-day challenges, and ways to resolve them within the student. A good teacher is an asset to the students. A teacher is a role model, living example, motivator, guide, philosopher, mentor, scholar, and counselor to his students.

What are the biggest challenges for higher education in general and St. Joseph institute specifically?

“Maintaining Pass percentage is the biggest challenge at both levels”

Higher education imparts knowledge, develops the student’s ability, and also gives him/her a wider perspective of the world around them. Some of the challenges of the Higher Education system in India are as follows:

• Shortage of faculty and high student-faculty ratio.
• Inadequate infrastructure and facilities.
• Low employability of graduates. 

Big Challenges of St. Joseph’s Institute are as follows:

• To maintain a good pass percentage and discipline among students.
• To focus on Good admissions and Retention of Staff.
• To promote unity among the students as they come from different backgrounds.

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How could your university be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

"To encourage the students to participate in various Cultural Day programs together"

The powerful and impressive insights of our University that make it more welcoming to students of different races and economic backgrounds are as follows:

1. Maintaining cordial relationships among the student community.
2. Their race, caste, creed, background, financial and social status may not be the obstacle to the harmony of their higher education.
3. Organizing ‘Cultural Day’ annually and encouraging students to participate actively.
4. As said, ‘A sound mind in a sound body makes every student enthusiastic on ‘Annual Sports Day.’
5. Encourage students to participate in Essay Writing competitions, Elocution, GD’s, Debates on the great sacrificial lives of social reformers who stood for social justice and equality among the student community.

What do you see as St. Joseph College’s greatest strengths?

"Providing students with highly qualified Faculty and Well-equipped study materials"

The greatest strengths of our college are as follows:

1. Qualified and committed teaching faculty, young and enthusiastic staff, pursuit for higher learning is a major strength.
2. Scholar support system, remedial teaching, student counseling, Adequate Sports infrastructure, and NSS.
3. Eco-friendly campus in a serene location with abundant natural resources and Well equipped and sophisticated laboratories.
4. Well organized and support alumni and Curriculum enrichment through add–on certificate/diploma courses.
5. Participative and collaborative management approach reflected in various committees, quality circle meetings, and clubs.
6. Students from diverse demographics are reflected in the number of minorities, SC/ST, Backward community, financially backward, and female students.
7. High coordination, teamwork, healthy relationship amongst the faculty, reasonable sincerity and cooperative office staff, and obedient supporting staff are major strengths.
8. Extension activities with significant contribution from departments, NCC, NSS, and other Clubs.

How do you guide your students to survive in such a competitive scenario?

“Providing students with various motivational sessions and Personality development programs”

When the student loses in a competition or fails to achieve in a competitive environment, it can seem like the end of the world to him/her. It is advised the student to realize where she/he went wrong, what the shortcomings were, and work harder to win better. Over time this attitude of hard work will teach a student to work better and be more resilient in their attitude.

In short, students should never give up, should not underestimate themselves, should always be self-motivated, should fulfil their parents' desires, and read great biographies of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, A P J Abdul Kalam, Abraham Lincoln, Swami Vivekananda, etc. Vivekanand says, ‘Arise, Awake and Stop not till your Goal is achieved.’

Always think positive, dream big, and aim high. ‘Shoot for the Moon If you miss you will still be in the Stars.’

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What valuable advice would you like to give to the students?

“To have a great and lucrative career, stay focused and dedicated”

Youth must possess steely willpower, mighty determination, and tremendous grit. For this, the youth itself must be fully sound and armor itself with essential qualities. Youth are the real sculptors of the nation and Swami Vivekananda rightly called the youth, ‘The Real Power of the Nation.’ To uplift the nation what is required in the present scenario is to unleash the immense latent patriotism and chauvinism among youth which will light the fire of responsibility. In brief, youth should:

1. Give respect to fellow human beings especially women and elders.
2. Never allow suicidal thoughts.
3. Be optimistic.
4. Have a sense of responsibility.
5. Aim high in life.
6. Should learn and practice ethical values in day-to-day life.
7. Should know the value of time.
8. Limit the use of Technology and Social media as ‘Too much of anything is always harmful.’
9. Service to Mother India and not foreign countries.
10. Should not pollute the environment but protect it.