Tag: Editorial

Co-Editors Reporting to Duty!

Well, well look who finally made it! After what felt like centuries of trying to get this together, here we are at last! (Let us confess, co-writing was quite the struggle!)  As many of you might have already heard, the Editorial is fondly known as home for Rotaractors who love to put their thoughts into paper, and WE have no argument there. I think it’s safe to say that most of our contributions to Rotaract over the past year have been through the Editorial. (Not saying that we slacked when it came to other projects!) Honestly though, the Editorial gave us freedom to voice our thoughts, and to publish our work—whether it was poems, short stories, or essays. Having people…

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Painted with Resin, Multicolored Skies Grace the Ambiguous Portrait 

PSA: We had quite the task structuring this article, so two things! One, it ended up being much longer than we anticipated, so we apologize for the long read; it's our last yap session, so please bear with us and two, there were people we each individually wanted to appreciate and some collectively. So, there will be bits that Kusali wrote, bits that I wrote, and bits we wrote together; we’ll let you know who wrote what before each section!  (Sajani talks…) When my mind kept nagging me about having to write this article.. I was truly wondering what to write and how to write it in a way that justifiably encompasses my journey in Rotaract, which is also how…

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The Not-So-Ordinary Universe

“But what if I end up alone? What if no one likes me and cuts me off? I don’t want that. I don’t want to go to uni!” On the contrary, ladies and gentlemen, she did not end up alone. Let me tell you the story of a girl whom we shall name X (I have always wanted a cool name like that—easier to spell). X was your ordinary girl, going through a hundred and one ordinary life crises, dreaming of the ordinary dreams, and hoping she would make it far in her ordinary life. Or at least that is what it seemed like. Like everyone else, she had been fed the routine chant of life getting “easier” once you…

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Month in Review: April & May

Hey everyone! Remember us? The folks who usually bring you the hottest updates from Rotaract Arts? Well, today we bring a double dose of it, but not-so-hot updates. April, thanks to end-of-semester exams, was not a very busy month for our club. And in May, the strike by the non-academic staff hit! We, like everyone else, naively thought it'd be over in a flash, and we couldn't have been more wrong. With more exams and uncertainty around the strike, we were holding off publishing. Now, given that it has been going on for more than two months, we decided to publish the MIR. Better late than never, right? Since this is the last update from your trusty MIR writing team,…

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Rising to Leadership: Embracing the Responsibility as President

As the second male president in the storied history of Rotaract Arts, I am honored to share my journey with this incredible organization that has profoundly shaped my life and the lives of many others. When I first joined the Rotaract Club, I was filled with excitement and a desire to make a difference. Little did I know that this decision would lead me to a transformative journey filled with challenges, growth, and unforgettable memories. In my early days as a member, I quickly learned that Rotaract was more than just a club—it was a family. I was surrounded by passionate, driven individuals who were committed to serving the community and fostering personal and professional growth. This supportive environment encouraged…

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Signing Off: Closing Reflections from a Secretary

My Rotaract journey began in 2022, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. We had online lectures, and I was itching to get to university, but there was no way for it. Then, I saw this Rotaract flyer fluttering around like a hopeful butterfly. Thinking it was a great excuse to visit the university, I decided to join the club. I had no clue what Rotaract was about. I was a bit nervous since I knew no one in the club or at the university. But I challenged myself, determined to make it work no matter what. The first friend I made in Rotaract was Manthini. We met while donating books to a community service project.…

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Rising through the Ranks: Personal Growth and Learning

Labor Omnia Vincit Hard work conquers all. “Here comes the man of the match. Well done, Induwara.” Oshini Akka, the former club service director, said this in the middle of the ‘Baila Night’ in March 2023. A long time ago, at the start of 2022, SLAM was the first event I participated in under the wave of Rotaract. That day, Abheetha, Savini, Ranosha, and I were the first members to participate in the Rotaract event. Tharushika Akka was the first one I met from the executive board at that time. Honestly, I didn't have any idea what SLAM was. The only thing I knew was that it was a group activity or something along those lines. LOL. The Fresher's Championships…

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Our Kinda Universe

I have always thought that my life is just a continuation of second options… When I passed the grade five scholarship exam, I never got into the school of my choice - well,my parents’ choice to be exact, for my kid self had no idea what was going on, I never got intothe school my friend and I hope to enroll together after O/Ls. For me, it has always been thesecond option, never the first. So, when I did not get selected for the university that I had alwaysdreamt of enrolling in, it was just another “oh” kind of situation. Nothing to do about that, justthink of what you got not what you lost. It didn’t affect me much and…

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Balancing Act: A Look into My Journey with Rotaract

My journey with the Rotaract Club at the University of Colombo, Faculty of Arts, began in 2022 when I joined as a member. Since then, I've participated in every project, gaining valuable experience and skills. One of my early milestones was working as a co-chair with Jehan, the current president, for the O'Santa Christmas Party. This role taught me many lessons and developed my leadership skills, which helped me become Vice President in 2023. I'd like to take a moment to express my special thanks to Jehan and Gethmi for believing in me. Their support has been a great motivation. As Vice President, I took on many responsibilities, further enhancing my knowledge and leadership skills. My co-vice president, Induwara, has…

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Stepping Up: A Year of Fun, Challenges, and Impact

The clearest memory I have of my first days as an undergraduate was signing up for Rotaract and joining the online orientation program of the club. With online learning taking control, apart from attending the university on the day of the placement test, I had no need to step into the university. It was Rotaract that gave me the reason to come to university during the first semester of my first year. Therefore, it's right to say that my university life would not have been the same if not for Rotaract. . My first year as a Rotaractor enabled me to experience days of endless fun, happiness, and whatnot. We were on a journey, making memories with friends who felt…

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