{"id":4255,"date":"2024-12-01T15:51:52","date_gmt":"2024-12-01T10:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/?p=4255"},"modified":"2024-12-01T15:51:54","modified_gmt":"2024-12-01T10:21:54","slug":"what-does-gavel-mean-to-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/?p=4255","title":{"rendered":"WHAT DOES GAVEL MEAN TO ME?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cWhat does Gavel mean to you?\u201d This was one of the questions I was asked during my interview for the Gavel Subcommittee. In that moment, I gave an answer off the top of my head, it was an interview, after all, and I was feeling a bit nervous despite knowing most of the panel. But in the weeks that followed, every time I sat back with my phone for some mindless scrolling, that question kept replaying in my mind. I found myself asking, \u201cReally… what does Gavel mean to you?\u201d <\/em>More often than not, I\u2019d slip into deep thought and reflection, completely ignoring the funny cat videos in my YouTube feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t explain what Gavel means to me without taking you through a long, detailed journey spanning six years. Going down memory lane, back to 2019, there was a conversation that started it all, a conversation with Shamla Naleer, who was once a VP of Gavel UOC. Shamla, with whom I share a sisterly bond and whom I deeply admire as a mentor, told me all about Gavel. I remember her saying, \u201cWhen you get into UOC-yes, when, not if, you absolutely HAVE to join Gavel. It will be one of the best experiences you\u2019ll ever have.\u201d<\/em> My seventeen-year-old self-hung onto every word with awe, even though I could hardly imagine ever getting into the University of Colombo. That conversation sparked my dream of joining Gavel UOC. I began exploring their webpage, reading blog articles, and watching videos Shamla Dhathi (as I fondly call her) posted on Instagram. I even practiced what I\u2019d say at my first meeting, long before it ever became a reality!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward to 2023: I had finally gotten into UOC and was thrilled about the new path ahead. I was eager to do my best, try new things, and, of course, join Gavel! I still remember how inspired I felt after GV Naethree Akka\u2019s speech during one of our orientation sessions. My first Gavel meeting was the Aurudu-themed meeting in 2023, held on the university grounds. I took on the role of Ah Counter during that very first meeting, and it felt like a huge accomplishment. I left feeling happy and refreshed, determined to attend the next meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But life doesn\u2019t always go as planned, does it? The stress of navigating a new environment, trying to make friends, and worrying about whether I\u2019d ever fit in began to weigh on me. Slowly, I withdrew into a shell I was too afraid to break out of. I became more reserved and ultimately chose to stick to faculty-based clubs and familiar faces. Though I joined online Gavel meetings, I avoided physical ones at all costs, stubbornly convincing myself that I\u2019d never fit in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little did I know how wrong I was or how much I\u2019d regret not spending enough time with Gavel during my first year. It wasn\u2019t until I stepped into my second year that I realized I\u2019d never stop feeling uncomfortable around people unless I actually put myself out there and interacted. I\u2019m eternally grateful to myself for taking that first step. I promised myself that I\u2019d attend more meetings, take on more table topics, and, most importantly, make friends. With that, I made one of the best decisions: joining the Education Subcommittee. It didn\u2019t take long to realize that Gavel was more than just an organization or a club; it was a place that welcomed everyone with open arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being someone who disliked crowds and chaos, I found myself looking forward to the fun banter and conversations in Gavel meetings. I met people who made me feel valued and included, encouraging me to break out of the shell I had built around myself. No matter how tiring or hectic life got, I eagerly anticipated the next meeting, the whole process of working behind the scenes and finding role-players. In October, I had the wonderful opportunity to be the TMOD for the first time. Hearing members speak on topics based on the theme I had chosen was an incredibly fulfilling experience. A special shout-out to GV Prabhani for being the best VP Education I could have asked for, and to GV Nuhaa and GV Nethmi for their constant encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And this is exactly what Gavel means to me. I haven\u2019t spent a lot of time with this beautiful family yet; there\u2019s still so much more to do and many opportunities to seize. But I\u2019m determined to embrace it all and make this <\/em>year my Gavel year<\/em>. For many, Gavel might be a place to overcome stage fright or a platform to improve their skills and build new connections. To me, it\u2019s all that, and more. It\u2019s where I met people who became my biggest cheerleaders, even though we had only just met. It\u2019s where I realized that, despite coming from different backgrounds and studying for different degrees, there\u2019s always something that connects us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gavel helped me rediscover my enthusiastic self and reignited my excitement about university life. It provided a safe space where I could voice my most ridiculous thoughts or share my deepest feelings without fear of judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, I know I still have a long way to go. I\u2019ve only just begun this journey, and I can\u2019t predict what the months ahead will bring. But one thing is certain: I\u2019ve fallen in love with Gavel. And, to quote Hazel Grace, \u201cI fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.\u201d<\/em> Here\u2019s to making more memories and discovering the best version of myself through Gavel!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWhat does Gavel mean to you?\u201d This was one of the questions I was asked during my interview for the Gavel Subcommittee. In that moment, I gave an answer off the top of my head, it was an interview, after all, and I was feeling a bit nervous despite knowing most of the panel. But […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123948,"featured_media":4259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[185,200],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/123948"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4255"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4260,"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255\/revisions\/4260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gavel.cmb.ac.lk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}