By C.M. Paul
Siliguri, July 18, 2026: In July, as campuses across India come alive with admissions to institutions of higher learning, thousands of young people find themselves making life-shaping decisions about their future.
For many, these choices are influenced less by their own interests and abilities than by parental expectations or the desire to fulfil dreams left unrealised by an earlier generation.
In an age when career choices are often shaped by degrees, examinations, and employment statistics, Salesian / Don Bosco institutions continue to demonstrate that education is fundamentally about discovering and developing the whole person.
Through music, literature, translation, media, cultural engagement, and leadership formation, young people are encouraged to identify their talents, nurture their abilities, embrace their cultural heritage, and pursue work they genuinely love.
This vision reflects the Salesian understanding of education: forming young people socially, culturally, intellectually, spiritually, and professionally so that their vocation becomes not merely a means of earning a livelihood but a meaningful contribution to society.
The journey of Kitkupar Nongsiej, from the village of Kynshi in Meghalaya to the global stage of the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Las Vegas, exemplifies this vision.
His success was not the result of chance but of years of mentorship, disciplined training, community support, and opportunities provided through the Don Bosco educational network.
Encouraged to cultivate his musical talent while remaining rooted in his indigenous culture, Kitkupar has grown into an international cultural ambassador.
His story demonstrates how recognising and nurturing a student’s natural gifts can open pathways to professional excellence without sacrificing cultural identity.
The same educational philosophy is evident at Salesian College (Autonomous), Sonada, through the trilingual translation workshop, Kanchenjunga to Kaveri.
Bringing together students from West Bengal, Sikkim, Nepal and Tamil Nadu, the programme enabled participants to translate literary works across Nepali, English, and Tamil.
More importantly, it fostered intercultural dialogue, collaboration, communication, and creative thinking—skills increasingly valued in today’s knowledge-driven economy.
The initiative reminds students that meaningful careers also flourish in the humanities, languages, publishing, research, digital media, and the creative and cultural industries.
A similar example of formation beyond the classroom came through the National Cadet Corps. On 15 July 2026, Salesian College Siliguri felicitated student Senior Under Officer Cadet Samden Bhotia, from the Department of Political Science. He had successfully completed the prestigious Youth Exchange Programme in Russia.
Selected from across India as one of only ten cadets, male and female, Samden was the sole representative from Sikkim and West Bengal, bringing honour to both the college and its National Cadet Corps unit.
“This achievement reflects the discipline, dedication, and leadership qualities nurtured in our students,” said ANO Rintu Saibya, congratulating Samden for making the institution proud on a global stage.
Organised under the aegis of the National Cadet Corps, the Youth Exchange Programme fosters cross-cultural understanding and leadership among young cadets.
Together, these stories convey a common message: career formation begins with self-discovery. Every young person possesses unique talents, learns differently, and carries individual aspirations.
Education becomes transformative when it helps students recognise these strengths, refine them through discipline and practice, and connect them with opportunities for meaningful employment, entrepreneurship, and service.
For Don Bosco institutions, preparing young people extends far beyond helping them secure jobs.
It means forming responsible citizens who cherish their culture, serve their communities, and pursue professions aligned with their talents and values.
Such an education cultivates confidence, resilience, creativity, ethical leadership, and a lifelong commitment to learning—qualities that remain indispensable in every profession.
Whether a student becomes a performing artist, translator, entrepreneur, teacher, engineer, social worker, cadet, or media professional, the objective remains unchanged: to help each young person discover work they love, excel through competence and character, and earn a dignified livelihood while contributing positively to society.
The journeys from Kynshi to Las Vegas, from Kanchenjunga to Kaveri, and from Siliguri to Russia are therefore more than inspiring individual stories.
Together, they illustrate how holistic, value-based education prepares young people for a rapidly changing world—one in which talent, culture, integrity, discipline, and lifelong learning become the enduring foundations of both personal fulfilment and sustainable careers.
(Photo supplied by author)