Media Release
Mangaluru, Jun 14: The department of counselling, St Aloysius PU College, Mangaluru, organized an orientation programme for I PU students residing in hostels and boarding facilities both on and off campus. This session was specially arranged to offer guidance, support, and care to students navigating a new phase of life away from home.
The resource person for the session was Dr Mona Mendonca, assistant professor and head of the department of History, St Aloysius University, Mangaluru. With over 15 years of experience as an academician, soft skill trainer, motivational speaker, writer, and anchor, Dr Mendonca brought an engaging and empathetic approach to her session.
In her address, Dr Mendonca highlighted the common challenges faced by hostel students, such as culture shock, homesickness, language barriers, unfamiliar academic systems, and loneliness. She encouraged students to acknowledge their emotions as natural and temporary; reassuring them that adaptation takes time. Emphasizing the importance of embracing differences, she noted, “Each unfamiliar experience is a doorway to learning.”
She also stressed the importance of financial literacy as an essential life skill, encouraging students to track their spending, make wise choices, and understand budgeting. “Financial literacy is not just about money; it’s about survival,” she remarked.
The session also touched upon vital topics such as balancing academics and social life, dealing productively with loneliness, and dispelling the myth of glamour often associated with student life away from home. She urged students to prioritize their mental and physical well-being, maintain strong connections to their roots, and stay curious and eager to learn-not just from books, but from people and life itself.
The session was both enriching and reassuring, helping students feel seen, understood, and better prepared to face the journey ahead.
Sarah Crasta, department of counselling, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude for the valuable insights shared and encouraging students to apply them in their everyday lives.