What’s Rotaract to you? A question asked by many yet the answers are always unique and never the same.
As a firm believer of the saying “The best things in life happen unexpectedly and the best will come when and from you least expect it”, becoming a part of this global community of people from diverse cultures and backgrounds was never on my bucket list. First introduced and having heard of it from someone near and dear, the opportunity was presented to me during my first week’s orientation at the University of Colombo. Following the fun and memorable introduction by my seniors, it was there that I decided to take a step into this then-unknown adventure. Although it seemed naïve at first, it took me several months to realize that it was to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.
From Akhankara, GotPink? & We Guide to The Enchanted Wilderness the past year was never short of tasks to complete as well as fun and laughs along the way.
As my first year as a Rotaractor at RACFOSUOC comes to a close, these are a few of the things I’ve gained so far from working side by side with a bunch of multi-talented, hard-working (& crazy) individuals and all the time being guided by the first-rate Board of Directors headed by a nonpareil & super ExCo.
Rotaract is waking up in the morning to a new adventure. It is making new friends, trying out new things, sharing laughter, and making memories for life with people you love. Rotaract is not being bound by rules that limit you, but by ones that nurture you. It’s stepping into the unknown, outside your comfort zones, thinking outside the box, growing as an individual, learning from mistakes, and giving it your all.
Rotaract is the smiles after seeing the end product of months of hard work and team effort. It’s seeing the beams of gratitude, learning what it feels like to put a smile on the faces who need it the most, and shining a light to someone’s darkness. And most of all Rotaract to me can be summed up in a quote.
“In a time full of war, be peace
In a time full of doubt, just believe
In a time full of noise, just listen
In a world full of hate, be a light…”
We all are writers of our own stories and I’ll forever be grateful for Rotaract for being a part of mine. As thankful as I am for the opportunities and memories made so far, I’m looking forward and excited to all the ones to come.
Viva la Rotaract!
Image Credits: The Rotary Foundation and Author
By Rtr. Tharini Cabraal
Beautifully written! 🥺♥️