Cheer Slogans of Sem

When Messi and Christiano Ronaldo play against each other the whole aura is amazing and when Maradona entered the football field people stood up to watch. Likewise when we played at the flats the atmosphere was inexplicably surreal. I have played many matches at the flats- it was an honour to play for St. Joseph's College- however, the only thing that kept us going was the cheering and chants of Sem's supporters.

The ambience was something out of the world. The Semites/Semians who cheered for us were the heart and soul and an integral part of all the matches we played. In many of the close matches we played and those matches in which we came out from the jaws of defeat was the cheering and support that helped us emerge winners in the end.

Here are some of the slogans and chants I can remember that still sometimes ring through my ears and take me back to those days of everlasting bliss.

15 August 1996(Juveniles Finals)

-Come on Sem, Give it to them. SJC.
-China Peak and Tiffin Top. Sem, Sem at the top.
-Sem, Sem, Sem, Sem. Ra, Ra, Ra, Ra.
-Who are, who are, who are we? We are the champs of SJC.
-Tickle-Tackle, Tickle-Tackle. That's the way to fight the battle.
-Aloo Patty, Cream Role. Sem, Sem, score a goal.
-Ready, Ready, Ready, Yeah...
 Everybody ready, Yeah
 We want a G, Yeah!
 We want an O, Yeah!
 We want an A, Yeah!
 We want a L, Yeah!
 What does it spell? Goal...
 Louder! Goal. Still Louder! Goal. Scream! Goal. Yell! Goal.
-Too high to kick over. Yeah,Yeah!
 Too low to kick under. Yeah,Yeah!
 So kick in the middle. Yeah,Yeah!
 And score like Thunder. Yeah,Yeah!
-Sem has won the match, today!
 Oh! Deep in my heart, I do believe,
 Sem has won the match today.
-Kick them, Boot them, Make your way
 Sem, Sem all the way.
-Certa Bonum Certamen.

Remembering the Time

The Schedule in Sem

Sometimes when I take a look at my watch I wonder what the guys in Sem would be doing. Would they be in classes, would they be playing or would they be in bed listening to songs...? 12 noon meant an hour long lunch break. 3:30 means the time for games where one can picture all the students in one of the four colours- green, yellow, blue or red.

Trying to remember those amazing days in St. Joseph's College, I thought of putting down what I remembered as a student in Sem. For some it could be dead habits but for many of us it was a way of life and discipline that certainly has made a difference in everything we are.

School Days

06:00 - Wake up to thunderous Claps, wash up and change
06:50 - Morning studies
07:30 - Breakfast - Bread was always a part of it
08:00 - Second studies

08:50 - School begins
10:05 - 10 minutes break after 2 classes/periods
11:55 - Lunch break/Recess
12:55 - Classes resume
14:10 - 10 minutes break
14:55 - School ends
15:00 - Tea time
15:30 - Games time
16:55 - Wash up and change into civil/coloured clothes
17:30 - Studies for 2 hours
19:30 - Dinner
20:00 - To dormitories after changing into night suits
21:00 - To bed

This was a typical school day routine where day-scholars stayed in Sem from about 8:30 till 15:00. Some of them stayed during the games time for their respective house matches.

Waking up at 6:30 during the gazetted holidays and Thursdays which we termed late sleeps were days we looked forward to with great enthusiasm. It was definitely a treat for the boarders.

Do you recall the late studies that happened on Wednesdays, the day when our evening studies started from 18:00 instead of 17:30? How many of us remember those very few generous offerings from the Principal in the form of free evenings. Whiling the evening away playing foota, cricket or just doing nothing.

Movies on a Sunday and inter-house matches were always there but what about the inter-class matches in football and cricket. Getting excited about visiting Ramnee during their school functions, studying under the torch-light during examinations, getting up earlier than the claps to practice athletics and football... Those days were much more than mere school days. They were the best and nothing compares to them.

What else do you remember of the most memorable and formative years in Sem? Please share!

The College Anthem

You've heard of many a school I trow
And many a college too
But there is one that always is
The best for me and you
'Tis perched o'er Naini's lovely lake
And our dads were there of old
For a century and more 'tis known
As the home of the true and bold

'Twas called at first the good old Sem
And later SJC
And a dearer place cannot be found
At least for you and me
Its boys are hard to beat my friends
In classroom, field or fame
Their motto down the years has been
Make sure to play the game

And here's to the boys of SJC
To her children every man
And pass the word to those who'll come
Give the motto of the clan
Adown the years to fight life's fight
To fight it clean and be
Among the boys who've kept the bridge
At dear old SJC