Student Participation in the Workshop: The Road Less Taken

Student Participation in the Workshop: The Road Less Taken

Exploring Unconventional Paths, One Story at a Time

On 7th February 2025, six students from the Department of English at Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce found themselves at the scenic Pilar Pilgrim Center for a career guidance workshop that truly lived up to its name—The Road Less Taken. Hosted by Fr. Agnel College, Pilar, the workshop ran from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and brought together a brilliant lineup of speakers who’ve carved their own unique niches in the world of literature, media, and the arts. From Leonard Fernandes of Dogears Bookshop to Pratik Joshi of Soul Travelling, from short story writer Sheila Jaywant to the ever-energetic emcee Damian Carvalho, and finally, the storytelling duo of journalist Fredrick Noronha and filmmaker Jojo D’Souza—each one had an inspiring tale to tell.

Our student squad—Pearlin Gonsalves, Aisha Khan, Janice Silvera, Marvel Gomes, Pearl Cardoso, and Deepika Iti—soaked in the stories, scribbled notes, and left with a fresh perspective on careers that don’t follow the traditional track. The speakers didn’t just talk about success; they shared their struggles, side-hustles, passions, and the power of simply doing what you love. The entire experience was a reminder that with creativity, courage, and a little bit of curiosity, the road less taken can lead to some amazing places.