Today we would like to Introduce Poojitha Palaniswamy and Rasika Selva.
Poojitha and Rasika, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We have both been friends for a very long time, however, our interest in public speaking did not come to a head until we attended a Youth Leadership Program together by Toastmasters. Throughout the program, as we all became more confident, we realized how exciting it was to hear a new story from everyone every week. 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.
Once the program ended we couldn’t imagine walking away from this. Our friend and mentor, Mr. Vijayan Nair, suggested we start a community club to create a space for teens like us to grow our confidence by fostering a love for public speaking. It’s so common to deal with insecurity and low esteem – we’ve felt it ourselves.
The way we see it, public speaking is a tool – no matter how different two people may be, talking to each other, connecting – that’s how you bridge the gap between those differences. 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, and 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 Archers 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.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely Membership. We wanted members who care about our cause and would be willing to invest serious time and effort into our events.
We were such a small club starting and there was so much we had to do by ourselves, it was tough. We’re still in the process of recruiting new members, but we take pride in knowing that each one of our members truly loves and supports what we do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Archers Gavel is a non-profit under Toastmasters International.
It is an alternative for those unable to join a regular Toastmasters club due to issues like the age requirement of 18. This is a community-based effort not confined to any particular school or organization- open to all.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
1) Don’t lose trust in the vision.
2) Choose your partners carefully – they’re the ones you rely on. Don’t settle for people who aren’t as passionate as you are about your cause, people who are only in it for the position or money, and don’t settle for people you can’t see yourself bent over laughing with.
3) If you don’t respect yourself, no one will.
4) You will get rejected. You will fail at things and struggle and have no one show up – all of these things make you better. Don’t quit early because you failed. It’s easy to say “Don’t give up”, but once you’re actually in it, it’s way easier to rationalize quitting. You wanted this – don’t lose trust in yourself, and ask for help if you need it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/archersgavel
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archersgavel
