"Health is wealth," the age-old proverb says, and this generation of youngsters

are well aware of it. The consumption of drugs is way less compared to our predecessors, the studies say. This generation cares more about their physical and mental health and does its best to pave a healthier path for its successors. 

At our college, GCT, Elixir was held for 3 days, starting from 28th January and ending on 30th January. It was a large-scale medical camp, brought into the campus with the help of Rotaract. A special thanks is due for Rtr. Abiram N and his colleagues made this event a great success. 

The event happened at the main auditorium. In the morning I went there, and the Rotaract volunteers welcomed me and guided me. I went for a general body check; the doctors checked my weight, height, and BP. They gave advice like "drink more water and stay hydrated. " I saw many people checking their BP, especially the elderly. 

Next, I went for a tooth checkup. They checked my teeth and offered me special privileges, like discounted treatment and specific advice, as I'm a student of GCT. I even got toothpaste for my participation. 

In this generation, many people are addicted to phones. Without a phone, you can't see anyone, anywhere. So an eye checkup becomes mandatory. The doctors and nurses were so friendly. They asked me to read the letters and tell them, but all I could do was give them a perplexed look. As this was my first time going for an eye checkup, I didn't know this is how eyes were checked, and that gave us a good laugh. 

A blood donation camp was stationed at the Platinum Jubilee Building. And I wished to partake in it and donate blood. The volunteers enrolled my name and checked my weight, the doctors checked my hemoglobin level, and finally, they did a general checkup. After all these steps, I donated my blood. The doctors and nurses were kind. After donating the blood, the Rotaract volunteers took care of me and gave me medicines. At that time, I heard one person came to donate blood who had one of the rarer blood groups, AB+. 

You know, in college life many confusions will arise regarding what to do next, and it will sometimes lead to mental trauma. So I went to a psychiatrist; they were supportive, asking what the problem was, and I took counseling. I am still not clear about my path, but at least the mental trauma is gone. There was also a skin care center; many people took treatment for their acne, acne scars, hair fall, or other related issues. It happened in a separate room for privacy, and I really appreciate that. PCOD and PCOS counseling was given to girls. They said the doctors made them feel comfortable, clearing doubts and creating awareness about that.

A lot of students and staff benefited from this event. The event ended without any disruptions, and it served its purpose completely.

Patron: Dr. K. Manonmani, Principal of GCT

Article prepared by: R Selvakumar (CSE 24-28)

The GCT Coding Club, guided by Dr. Devi R ma'am and patronised by Principal Dr.K. Manonmani, just dropped something exciting a Diwali coding contest in collaboration with C1X that could land you a 3-month paid internship. 

C1X is a tech company specializing in innovative digital solutions and has been a trusted recruiter for GCT College. Co-founded by G Rajkumar Madhuram sir, a GCT CSE alumnus from the 1995 batch, the company maintains strong ties with our institution. It's not every day that an alumnus comes back to create opportunities for current students, which makes this collaboration feel more personal than your typical corporate partnership. 

Let's be real most students are not aware that the Coding Club exists. But here's your chance to not just practice coding consistently, but also compete for substantial rewards. C1X regularly recruits from GCT, so performing well in this contest could open doors beyond just the internship prize. Even if you don't win the grand prize, 8+ contests over two months will seriously sharpen your skills. This opportunity comes from someone who sat in the same classrooms you do now and understands exactly what GCT students are capable of. 

Join the GCT Coding Club on Telegram: https://t.me/+tT_9-hMT7ZxjN2Fl Contest starts: October 25, 2025

Article prepared by: Mathimalar V (IT 23-27)

GCT Coding Club x C1X: Code Your Way to a Paid Internship

Expectation. It is derived from a Latin word, expectationem, meaning “an awaiting.” Awaiting can be cold, awaiting can be cruel, but to await is to hope, to await is to long for. And so I waited for the day when the oval was decorated, the shield was lifted, and the stage was set. And so, I waited for Brainstrain ‘25.

Brainstrain is the flagship event of the Literary and Debating Society, where wordsmiths from all over the world wrestle it out with their wits to win the war of words.

I know that some of you might already be thinking that there is an excessive use of “W”s in the last few lines. Well, well, well, let me add one more “W” to the list by letting you know that the theme for Brainstrain ‘25 was “Wizards.”

With a lot of whimsical wizardry and a ban on witchcraft, the big day was right around the corner. As someone who was a part of Brainstrain ‘24, my heart was filled with excitement and the weight of expectations placed on Brainstrain ‘25.

“The start of the day begins as soon as the night ends,” they say. But our night never ended, as the final stretches of preparation were in full swing. And finally, when the sun was ready to rise, we were ready to pull the event off.

Every great event must have a grand start. And Brainstrain ‘25 had its grand inaugural ceremony at the main auditorium in the presence of the club advisor of LDS, Dr. J. Anbazhagan Vijay, and the chief guest, Dr. Ayesha M.I.

The President of LDS, Bharani Ishwarya  and The Secretary of LDS, Akash spearheaded the event, acting as the vanguards and the participants from different colleges were doing their best to stay put as they were eagerly waiting to shoot out from their seats and enter the vocabularic battlefields.

As Dr. Ayesha M.I., with her bubbling personality and motivational demeanour, commenced the start of  event, the stored energy shot out in all directions, increasing the entropy of the universe as well as the excitement of the innerverse.

The preliminary rounds for household events such as JAM, Shipwreck, Debate, Quiz, Poem, Microtale, Unominuto, Drama, and Puzzle were conducted in the morning. The Arcane Challenge, a special entry to this edition of BS ‘25, was especially enjoyed by the young practitioners of magic.

The events were spread across the venues of Alumni Auditorium, Platinum Jubilee Building, Science Block, and the Main Auditorium. To ease the confusion regarding directions, the members of our club actively sought out the participants and guided them to the right venues.

Participants from colleges like Hindustan, TNAU, GCE Salem, Law College, etc., showcased their way with words and enthralled the panel of juries.

The battle of wits, especially between TNAU and GCE Salem, was the fiercest, as they were going spell for spell against each other.

If time was a round rock, it really did roll fast, as the stomachs gave a cue, and lunchtime arrived. Spoiler alert: people loved the food, especially the rosemilk kesari, which was later unanimously granted the title of “a divine delicacy.” I'm definitely not biased on this one. Maybe I am, but hey, so are most people.

Like sirens on the sea, magically alluring the sailors with their enchanting voice, team MUFX enchanted us all with their soul-soothing performance. Every song hit the right note, and every song hit the right place. The big bright star’s efforts to tire out spirits were thwarted by this revitalizing performance.

What follows a calming performance, you ask? A Warzone. Fighting with nothing but words and wits, the shortlisted mages entered their chosen battles, proving their might once again for the world to see.

When the dust settled and the sun started to set, it was finally time to acknowledge the valor showcased by the participants. And so the valedictory ceremony began. Participants from different colleges bagged the prizes one after the other, but none stood as tall as GCE Salem and TNAU.

GCE Salem were in high spirits; being the overall title winners of Brainstrain ‘24, they had their fair share of confidence in doing it once again. And on the other hand, catching everyone off guard, TNAU, snatched win after win cementing its place as the unsuspected underdog.

What started with expectation can only end with expectation. Only this time, I was not the only one expecting it, but the whole crowd was. Young and elderly, participants and organizers, students and faculty—every single one of them was on the edge of their seats, eagerly waiting for the final reveal. The grand reveal of the overall title winner.

The anticipation in the air grew thicker and thicker until it reached its peak. To end the climax with a bang, I took the mic, and with the crowd as my echo, my voice rang loud, ceremoniously counting down from 10.

“And the overall title winner is…TNAU,” and the crowd erupted in wild cheers. The champions of this edition,TNAU, came running to the stage, lifting the trophy high and proud. Joy and zeal, the only emotions on their face.

Pictures were taken, moments were captured, and memories were etched deep into the hearts of everyone at the scene.

I'm immensely grateful for every single participant, volunteer, member, flag bearer, and alumni who showed up just to help their juniors out, the faculty, and our club advisor who made the event as successful as it was.

“Expectations can never be fulfilled,” they say. And I would like to add more to it. Yes, expectations are not meant to be fulfilled. But meant to be exceeded, surpassed, and dwarfed upon. And Brainstrain ‘25 did exactly that and ended with the hearts of people already expecting the next edition.

Article prepared by: Sivasiddharth S S(MECH 23-27)

Brainstrain '25 - where wits met wizardry

The GCT Student Journalist Council asked 88 students a straightforward question on October 10th, World Mental Health Day: How are you, really?

The responses uncover an obvious truth. Despite the visible academic achievements and vibrant campus life, many students quietly face emotional challenges rarely spoken about. These struggles include self-doubt, comparison, and over-analyzing, which overshadow even the pressure of exams and placements.

With 47.7% of the responses, third-year students predominated, followed by second-year with 37.5%. With career concerns looming but no end in sight, these students are in the thick of college life, past the adjustment period and deep into the pressure cooker. This isn't just data. It’s a mirror reflecting what many of us feel but rarely say out loud.

Most students, over 80% said they often feel pressurized, showing that stress is a constant part of campus life. Even though they are attending a prestigious university, students report experiencing intense daily pressure. This shows that pressure is a constant companion, a baseline hum of stress that permeates daily campus life rather than an isolated spike. Constant internal and external expectations make it difficult for students to rest without feeling guilty, as if taking a break means losing progress.

2. How would you rate your mental health?

Nearly three-quarters shared that they're managing their mental health fairly well, even if just barely keeping up with demands. Only a small portion of students describe their mental health as "excellent," while about a quarter rate it as "good." A dominant portion says it is simply "not bad", a lukewarm assessment that speaks volumes. This hedging of language, "not bad" instead of "good," reveals a generation that has normalized struggling, where "surviving" has taken the place of "thriving" as the benchmark for mental health and the absence of crisis is mistaken for wellness. It should serve as a wake-up call that less than half of students can honestly describe their mental health as "good".

3. How often do you get 6-8 hours of sleep?

Close to 55% reported not getting the recommended 6–8 hours of sleep, highlighting how rest often takes a backseat. According to the survey, this indicates a worrying pattern of sleep deprivation among students. Nearly a third report only "sometimes" getting enough sleep. More than just fatigue, this ongoing sleep deprivation is a silent epidemic that threatens emotional control, cognitive function, and general well-being. Students are making a Faustian trade-off between productivity and rest that leaves them constantly exhausted.

4. How often do you have a screen time of over 6 hours?

More than half, around 56% said their daily screen time stretches beyond six hours. Digital consumption has become the norm rather than the exception. In terms of education, entertainment, social interaction or the never-ending scroll of comparison, this depicts a generation whose lives are increasingly mediated through screens. This constant exposure blurs the line between purposeful screen use and passive scrolling, fostering habits that may worsen mental health struggles.

Only a small group, roughly 7% said they never skip their meals. A startlingly high percentage of students frequently skip meals, and many do so occasionally. Time constraints, stress-induced appetite loss, or simply forgetting to eat in the midst of the chaos can all contribute to this disturbed relationship with food, which suggests a more serious problem with self-care being neglected in favor of other demands. A culture where students have internalized the idea that productivity is more important than their physical needs is reflected when basic food is made negotiable.

Just 9% mentioned that they rarely feel stressed. The majority of students now consider stress to be their emotional baseline. It is especially telling that this category is so common; it implies that students have grown so used to stress that moderate levels seem normal, almost unremarkable.

Around 11% said they are consistently mindful in their day-to-day lives. Nearly half of students say they are only "sometimes" mindful, while others say they rarely attain this state. However, the data shows a notable lack of mindfulness; nearly two-thirds of students find it difficult to maintain a grounded and present moment awareness. Students are always caught between dwelling on the past and worrying about the future in an environment.

8. How often do you practice meditation or any breathing activities?

About 8% said they regularly practice meditation or breathing exercises. Students still under utilize breathing techniques and meditation, despite increased awareness of mental health resources. While students may have an intellectual understanding of the advantages of mindfulness practices, this gap between awareness and action indicates that adoption barriers such as time, energy, skepticism or simply not knowing where to begin remain significant.

9. How often do you practice journaling or jotting down your thoughts?

A tiny fraction maintains a journaling habit, showing how rare this reflective practice is among students. The use of journaling as a reflective practice varies among students. Nonetheless, a considerable portion say they "never" journal. This indicates that although almost half of the students have tried written reflection, most have not made it a regular practice. The quiet act of journaling may seem indulgent or ineffective in a culture that values outward success over inward thought, but for those who engage in it, journaling can provide a unique platform for raw emotional processing and self-expression.

10. On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being very worried), how worried are you about your career?

Close to 88% expressed concern about their career. Students are very concerned about their careers. High-stakes career outcomes in competitive institutions, where the pressure to land the "right" internship or placement can feel existential, are reflected in this widespread anxiety

11. How often do you compare your college life with others?

Over 65% acknowledged frequently comparing their college life with others. The practice of social comparison is ingrained in college life. Discussions about peers' achievements often trigger self-comparison and feelings of inadequacy. Students find themselves caught in a tiresome race where the finish line never stops moving in a place full of high achievers.

12. Do you feel that everyone is doing better than you?

Around 85% sometimes feel that everyone else is doing better than them. A staggering 44.3% say they consistently believe that everyone is doing better than they are. Regardless of how true this belief is, it affects their emotional reality and sense of value. Even for objectively successful students, this pervasive feeling of falling behind suggests that the internal voice of inadequacy is never completely silenced by outward accomplishments.

13. How often do you feel the need to prove yourself?

Nearly 66% said they often feel the need to prove themselves. The push to always prove oneself is unrelenting. This relentless cycle of continuous performance, where rest equates to stagnation and each interaction is a moment to prove credibility, keeps students in a state of perpetual self-consciousness. The requirement to establish oneself implies an acute doubt regarding one's intrinsic value, wherein worth has to be constantly earned instead of presumptuously held.

14. How often do you question your self-worth?

Over 61% admitted that they frequently question their self-worth. For certain students, self-doubt has become a constant companion. All of these points to a crisis of confidence and an inner questioning of one's worth resting just beneath academic success, an ongoing voice that asks if one actually belongs here, if one earned this success or if one was merely lucky. Having this inner questioning of self-worth could be considered the most permanent form of stress.

15. What affected your mental health in a bad way?

Close to 79% identified overthinking as negatively impacting their mental health, followed by friends and surroundings at around 63%. In one of the more insightful findings from the survey, overthinking was the most considerable and negatively influencing factor on students' mental health, followed by friends and environmental impacts. These invisible struggles overshadow both the more recognizable academic and placement pressures, while lifestyle also had an impact. This inversion of expected priorities reveals that the most persistent battles may not be against external pressures like deadlines, interviews or GPAs, but against the internal landscape of our own minds and the complex social ecosystem we live in or inhabit. This finding suggests that in a campus environment where academic excellence is given, the quieter struggles, the endless overthinking, the unspoken tension in friendships, the exhausting mental load of social navigation, these things are shaping students' psychological well-being silently.

16. What affected your mental health in a good way?

The most beneficial influence on mental health was found to be friends, followed by entertainment. These results provide a positive contrast to the difficulties that have been exposed elsewhere. Friends are lifelines. They understand the pressure because they are also going through it, even though sometimes it can be stressful. The necessary breathing room, those moments of escape that make the grind bearable, is provided by entertainment. Students are reminded that they don't have to bear everything alone when they have faith in others. These encouraging factors demonstrate that students are finding support, camaraderie and motivation to persevere despite the pervasive stress.

This survey reveals 88 students carrying invisible weights 79% overthink to the point of exhaustion, 44% believe they are behind, and most students suffer from too little sleep and too much doubt. We've mistaken burnout for ambition, anxiety for motivation and survival for success.

Ten years from now, you won't remember your second-year GPA. But your mind will remember how you treated it.

Mental health isn't watching self-care videos and motivational quotes. It's the difference between living and merely existing. Between building something meaningful and burning out before you even begin. You wouldn't run a phone at 7% battery for days and expect peak performance. Yet we expect our minds to function flawlessly while running on inadequate sleep, constant stress, and zero mental rest. The students in this survey aren't failing “The system that taught them their worth equals their output is failing.”

So ask yourself, “Am I building a life I'll want to live in? Or am I constructing a prison of expectations, comparisons, perpetual inadequacy?”

Your mental health isn't everything. But without it, everything else is nothing.

This World Mental Health Day, the Student Journalist Council asks, “What's the point of reaching the top if you're too broken to enjoy the view?”

“How are you, really? “ - A Reality Check on GCTians' Mental Health

“Engum Tamizh, Ethilum Tamizh, Endrum Tamizh,” as the proverb goes, Tamil grows strong, and Muthamizh Vizha grows stronger with each passing year. And this year marks the 50th anniversary of TMFA, making MTV ‘25 both glorious and golden. The General Secretaries of TMFA, Rahul and Subiksha took the lead in conducting the event with the help of their club advisor Dr.J.Anbazhagan Vijay.

The ever-uplifting event was conducted for 2 days, following its predecessor’s footsteps, bringing in students—no, artists—from various colleges to showcase their mastery in various forms of art. The golden event also brought home the alumni of our college, the artists of the past, and the members of previous boards back to the campus to once again relive the moments and sink into their legacy.

On the 10th of October, 2025, our college was brimming with a surreal glow, partially due to the serene sunlight beaming through the leaves and mostly due to the festive vibe spreading amongst the students, faculty, and even the little puppies I saw on the pathway.

As too many happy events cannot happen at the same place, the events were spread throughout the college campus; many happened at the main building, a few at the open auditorium, and even fewer special events happened at the auditorium.

And what can be more special than Muthamizh Vizha's special “Pattimandram”? In the presence of Sentamizhsudar S. Sivakumar, a debate on the topic, “Should Tamil literature be studied and followed or be read and enjoyed?” was conducted. Over a heated but humorous flow of exchanges between the participants, the result was given in favour of team “To be studied and followed.”

On the other side of the campus, at Rudra Block, the musicophiles were having a field day. Be it classical, western, hip hop, or anything in between, contestants from different colleges were giving their all in the Solo Singing Competition and we, the audience, were enjoying it to the fullest. It was followed by a specialized music quiz. Spoiler alert: I racked my last three brain cells but still couldn't find the answers, but the participants did an amazing job at finding the answers by following the rhythms of their heart.

As the quote goes, “Music is the soul, and dance is the body. Why would one exist without the other?” And who am I to separate the inseparables? At the alumni auditorium, a solo dance competition took place, and to say that the contestants rocked the stage would be an understatement! With a balanced amount of craze and grace, the contestants devoured the competition!

“Iyal, Isai, Nadagam” are the essence of Muthamizh Vizha. As “Isai” was covered prior, let us now enter the world of “Iyal” and “Nadagam.” The Tamil literature events were predominantly conducted in the main building. Starting from elocution, poetry writing, and cine quiz to mono acting and drama. Participants from colleges like NIT Trichy, GCE Salem, Sastra, KCT and others were competing with valiant spirit against each other.

On a separate note, at the open auditorium, events such as paper dressing and silambam took place. The participants recreated various fictional as well as historical figures using just papers and their imaginations. Notably, the goddess Amman and a character from the movie Kantara were beautifully crafted and brought to life with just the paper and DIY equipment. This just goes to show that with just a bit of creativity, even the everyday paper can be turned into exquisite art.

Time marches fast, they say, but I would like to add more. Time marches fast not because it wants to leave the past behind but because it is far too excited for the future to wait. And so the next day rolled, faster than I imagined and far exceeding my expectations.

Events such as DUMB-C, poetic art, and face painting were conducted in the classrooms, where students buzzing with enthusiasm participated and won a great many events. Notably, GCE Salem and Sastra were going neck to neck in terms of win rate, but instead of the expected dramatic enmity, there was only healthy rivalry and friendly banters among them.

As the sun reached high up in the sky, the competitive events came to a close, and the afternoon was reserved for maximizing the enjoyment of the participants, organizers, and faculties. Our beloved friends from Tamil Mandram performed Silambam in the open auditorium, making the crowd go wild with excitement. There was no shortage of screams and whistles, though in moderation to not be a disturbance to others.

To calm the raging tempest that the crowd was, there was a need for something soothing, something ethereal, something soul-touching, and as the Bible says, “Ask and you shall receive,” we were given the chance to bask ourselves in the heavenly vocals, melodious instrumentals, and surreal vibe brought by our own team MUFX. Their performance not only calmed the crowd but also healed and energized our spirits.

And that energy didn't go unused. For what happened next drained every single bit of our energy. In a good way, of course, as we were doing our best to control ourselves from jumping and shouting from the adrenaline-boosting performance done by our Eliminators. They didn't just dance, they had a story to tell, a story that people listened to and resonated with. Their dance was not just a set of movements but a movement amongst the students, art at its finest!

Time is relative, Albert Einstein said, and how true can you be, Einstein? What felt like just a minute seemed to have gone for two days, and as the sun started to set and an orange glow filled the campus, it was time for the beginning of the end. And so the award ceremony started with expectations and bated breaths. Participants from different colleges, including our own won many prizes but none came closer to the two behemoths, GCE Salem and Sastra.

The two colleges managed to bag one prize after the other and were almost on a stalemate. It is to be noted that GCE Salem has the history of being the overall title winner of Muthamizh Vizha for a whopping 7 times and on the other hand, Sastra was the dark horse, rising from the shadows when no one expected it. The countdown began for the big reveal. Prayers were whispered and nails were bitten, but nothing was as loud as the silence that came with the ending of the countdown. “The overall title winner is…GCE Salem,” and all hell broke loose. Tears of joy and cries of happiness could be seen on stage, as GCE Salem managed to win the trophy for the 8th time.

Even when the winner takes it all, the loser doesn't have to fall, and embodying this spirit, the students of GCE Salem displayed a stunning amount of sportsmanship by sharing the trophy with the students of Sastra, ironing out the bond made out of rivalry with mutual respect and admiration.

On a special note, all the events conducted were covered, recorded, reported, and now written by team SJC, for we work tirelessly to keep everyone informed and interested.

And with that, the grand event of Muthamizh Vizha ’25 came to a close, forever etching its name in the memories of all those who attended

Article prepared by: Sivasiddharth S S (MECH 23-27)

Credits to Entire Reporting Desk ‘25 and Photographers’ Desk ‘25.

Muthamizh Vizha ’25 -  An Overview By SJC

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