Poojitha Palaniswamy shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Poojitha, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am most proud of building a dream. I mean this completely in a unserious way. I love that I’ve dreamed up a day in my life that I would look forward to: one filled with the views I’ll see, the energy I’ll be surrounded by, and even the schedule I’ll follow. One of the best pieces of advice I have gotten is that I should imagine a dream day in my life and start approaching every day as if it were already true. So even though no one can tell that when I hyper focus on my laptop, I am really imagining myself in my dream career, I am proud that I have built a dream that makes the mundane feel interesting. I urge everyone to try the same because romanticizing, even if it is a little delusional, is one of the greatest ways to find happiness in the small.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Poojitha Palaniswamy, and I am currently the President of Archers Gavel, affiliated with Toastmasters International and based in Tampa, Florida. I co-founded this club with Rasika Selva. We completed the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program hosted by Tamil Sneham and led by Vijayan Nair. Through the confidence we gained in public speaking and leadership from this program, we truly deepened our friendship, and we couldn’t believe it was coming to an end. We grew so much individually, but we also realized how important it was to have that community—that group of people that you can be vulnerable in front of and grow with.
The way we saw it, public speaking was a tool that helps you bridge the gap between different people. It gives you trust in yourself—something to stand on. We wanted to give others a space to learn how to use this valuable tool, just have fun, and be more self-assured. So many people are afraid of public speaking, and that’s completely okay! But that’s not a reason to overlook how valuable public speaking can be, and neither is it a reason not to try.
With Archer’s Gavel, above all, we wanted to create a community where it’s okay to fail—everyone else is there to try with you, and we’re all constantly learning. Throughout the past two years, I have hoped that our members have had just as much fun as I have. I am extremely proud that we stuck to Archers through the empty meetings because we represent the voice of the youth in Toastmasters International District 48.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to believe I was truly fearless, and now I feel as if all I am surrounded by is fear. I used to be the kid who could walk on a trail with full energy and even a skip in my step, but now I tremble as I imagine getting stuck in mud and creatures like snakes. This is just a small example. I find myself doubting my potential when my dreams as a kid were limitless. This hesitation has been holding me back more and more as I have grown up in an age where you find just as much negative news as positive online, which is exacerbated by the hyper-competitive environment. But in Archers, I have proved over and over again that fear doesn’t hold me back—examples include showing up at the beginning of empty meetings and now seeing our members show that same confidence. I am slowly regaining this belief in myself, and I think that is so important because the belief that you can be strong during uncertain times is what prepares you for everything, not just certain skills you are confident in.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I think being a leader, especially in the space where you teach skills to the youth, varies greatly in what you learn based on the situation. I could’ve been lucky and started this club in an area where Toastmasters is super popular and where everyone wanted to join and put in their all. In other words, I could’ve been lucky and had a club full of mini me’s prefilled with the knowledge and practice. But I wasn’t lucky. I led meetings with just one member, had kids show up without a prepared speech, and had no Gavel club in the district to learn from. This “suffering” was honestly a lesson about consistency in disguise. I don’t even mean determination, but rather an annoying persistence when leading people. I used to believe that if you handed someone a stage, they would naturally take advantage of it. But these obstacles taught me that being a real leader means pushing people up there again and again, in all sorts of things. I started with speeches but slowly began guiding other officers to do the same. I don’t think I would have gained this persistence if I were successful in my first try.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think that my closest friends would say that energy and original opinion matter most to me. Many of them would probably describe me as an Energizer Bunny—someone who’s always buzzing with ideas, excitement, and drive. I choose to be eager because I think that extra energy makes every difference.
If there’s one other thing they can say for certain, it’s that I hate going along with a group without thought. I always want to understand why we’re doing something, to challenge ideas, and to make sure that every choice feels intentional. It’s not about being contrary or being different, it’s about caring enough to think and bring my own perspective. I think that’s what makes conversations and collaborations meaningful, different energies and individualities are allowed to shine.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
All the TV shows and books I have absorbed and memorized. The lessons from the Disney shows I grew up with and the adventures I went on with characters like Jason Grace would be what is left. Their stories shaped how I see the world — teaching me what courage, loyalty, and kindness look like long before I had to define them for myself.
What would remain are the pieces of me that were built from imagination: the curiosity that makes me ask questions, the empathy that comes from walking in so many characters’ shoes, and the quiet strength that stories have always shown me was possible. Even without the labels or the titles, I think those invisible lessons and that inner spark would still tell my story.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/archersgavel
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archersgavel
