Student Leader Interview - Snead Joanna Cardozo, JMC



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1. Tell us more about your role & responsibilities at your college?

As a Vice President of the biggest department of our college which is th B. A. Programme Department of Jesus and Mary College we have to cater to the needs of the students from Exams to all the Fun led educational activities necessary in a student life. We need to see that our students are fulfilling all the required tasks by the office for their exams, we have to conduct talks, knowledgeable sessions, competitions, make sure our students participate in inter and intra college level competitions so that Our Department can shine everywhere, conduct our Departmental Fest Mélange!!!

And most of all build a relationship with every student and grow stronger in our bond. With all the responsibilities around we also need to be accountable to our higher authorities and every student working with us. Being a leader we need to make sure that we through our acts create more leaders by setting various examples for our Juniors. Because leaders are not born, they are made!

2. How did you rise up to your position and how can a student aspiring the same, approach it?

A fun-crazy-jovial person once stepped into the premises of Jesus and Mary College, DU on 22 July, 2018 and there began her blessed journey of leadership and responsibilities as a college student. I, Snead J. Cardozo had never taken major leadership roles. More than the fright of it as most of the candidates, I never stepped forward because of the lack of knowledge of what was to be done by me and this was a big fat negative in my life. 

But then it all started with me being the CR of my class combination (Eco-Maths) in the 1st year of college when no one wanted to be the Class Representative because of which I was pushed forward. I eventually learnt the duties as they were taught by my teachers and peers to me. I made many friends and I had a great time. Eventually it led me to step forward for the position of Vice President of our B. A. Programme Department. 

3. What have been some of your biggest challenges and learnings from what you do?

Balancing! Striking the right balance as a leader with various other responsibilities is what is very necessary in one's life. I used to get so busy with the Departmental activities that at times I could barely close my eyes at night. There were times when I used to get carried away with other responsibilities besides my department ones, I couldn't spend as much time with my family as I used to before. The time I spend on myself to grow as a person also reduced and that was when I realised that with responsibilities we also need to strike a balance between many other things that we usually do. 

4. What did you do in your current role that makes you feel really proud of yourself?

I would not say that I did it, rather I would use the word 'we' The Department of B. A. Programme together has grown as one family under the main leadership of our President Jessica Robin Amos along with our teachers. We all worked together being good listeners, suggesting new ideas, working together and growing into the bond of a second family, a huge family with around 950+ students. Isn't that great? The relationship that has been built over this tenure between all the students makes me feel really proud. 

5. What's your message to encourage students to do internships and attend conferences?

Learning never stops. If you want to be successful, you need to grow, experience and most of all keep learning. And when do you learn? When you become good listeners and ride the roller-coaster that your life has prepared for you. Internships will help you gain experience in different work fields, you will build relations and as a whole we together in this society need to learn to grow together and help others grow. 

So when you are given the opportunity grab it. Attend conferences, listening will help you hear the voices of others. Learning from the learned and experienced will for sure help you reach the top. Say yes to new opportunities, try different things and what you will learn and the way you will grow as a new person will leave you astounded. 

Interviewed by - Jyotisha Singhal