IPS officer and Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Pfutsero, Shri Gautam Ramneek called upon students of Pfutsero Government College (PGC) to cultivate discipline, set clear goals and develop resilience as he addressed the 44th Freshers’ Day of the college on Saturday.
Addressing the new students, Ramneek urged them to make the most of the freedom and opportunities available in college, cautioning that without discipline and proper time management, the college years could pass without meaningful achievement.
Sharing from his own experience as a student, he recalled repeatedly planning to study seriously but postponing it until graduation. He therefore encouraged students to clearly identify their goals and write them down. “You have to set an aim. You have to write down in your diary what you want to do. It should be very clear,” he said.
Emphasising consistency over natural talent, Ramneek cited Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and his rigorous training routine to illustrate the importance of sustained effort. “When you practise again consistently, day after day, then you become good at it,” he said.
He also advised students to treat failure as a milestone rather than a defeat and stressed the importance of setting realistic daily targets. “Start with the minimum, aim for the maximum. But when you look at the practical reality, you should make your daily target with the minimum. Gradually, you may increase,” he advised.
Ramneek further called for the responsible use of smartphones and artificial intelligence, encouraging students to use platforms such as YouTube and ChatGPT as learning tools while retaining independent thinking and critical reasoning. He also stressed the importance of communication skills, public speaking and participation in sports such as football and badminton.
Speaking on Nagaland’s development, he said development should not be measured only through roads, hospitals and educational institutions but also through the quality of its human resources. He encouraged students to view education not merely as a means of personal advancement but as an opportunity to serve the community, society and nation.
Earlier, PGC Principal Dr Anungla Pongener, in her keynote address, urged the freshers to focus on self-improvement, discipline and employable skills. Welcoming more than 100 new students, she said college education should go beyond obtaining a degree and focus on “shaping character, building discipline, developing skills, nurturing leadership, and preparing you for life.”
Encouraging students not to compare themselves with others, she said, “Do not compete with others. Compete with the person you were yesterday.”
Drawing from her more than three decades of teaching experience at Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, Dr Pongener recalled students who worked during weekends and semester breaks to meet their educational expenses, with some unable to attend the first few weeks of classes because they could not afford admission fees. Despite their circumstances, she said, “they never gave up,” with many eventually excelling academically. “Hard work never dishonours anyone,” she remarked.
On employability, the Principal stressed that academic qualifications alone were insufficient, saying, “Your degree may open the door, but your skills will determine how far you can go.” She encouraged students to develop communication, computer, entrepreneurship, digital, vocational and language skills.
She also cautioned against excessive smartphone use, particularly social media and endless scrolling. “Control your phone before it controls your future,” she said, urging students to recognise that their daily choices would shape their future.
Quoting Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” Dr Pongener encouraged the students to uphold integrity, honesty, humility and responsibility, while respecting parents, teachers and seniors. She urged them to make the academic year count by building good friendships, cultivating positive habits and striving for excellence.
The 44th Freshers’ Day brought together students, faculty members, invited guests and members of the Cultural Student Union to welcome the new students and mark the beginning of their college journey.
Freshers’ Day 2026 results
Mr. Freshers 2026 was won by Mr. Sedewe Kazhie, while Miss Luzolu Tetseo was adjudged Miss Freshers 2026. Mr. Chewe Elah and Miss Wate-u Lasushe were declared first runners-up, while Mr. Tshelo and Miss Tsulu Lohe secured the second runners-up positions.
The event also featured Ravolü Chuzho, PGT Sociology, CMHSS Phek and co-chairperson of Miss Phek Foundation; Ezhotou Keyho, Femina Miss India Nagaland 2023 and Miss Phek 2021; and Ma’am Sano Koza, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Pfutsero Government College.
