imagined that I would ever be in this situation. While I was perfectly aware that none of the Gaveliers present would laugh at me if I make a mistake, the fear of public speaking entangled me completely.
When the nominated‘ Ah’ Counter for that day got his chance to speak, I willingly grabbed the‘ Ah’ Counter’ s position for a while because I love to be in that role. One after another, all Gaveliers delivered their speeches. Then the Table Topics Master invited me to do a speech, I was very anxious that moment wondering“ What should I do?” That was when all the other Gaveliers cheered me up by saying“ Just do a speech even if it is not among the listed Table Topics.” Inside my mind I was thinking how I wanted to be a Gavelier and the ultimate reason was to overcome the fear of public speaking. So what was I waiting for? Instantly I got up and took a step forward and picked up the last topic. When I saw the topic I was startled. It was about“ Love”. What a way to start my first Table Topic speech!
Eventually I did my speech fearlessly. At the end of that day I was happy because even though I didn’ t plan on delivering a speech that day, I ended up delivering my first Table Topic speech because of all the
Gaveliers who encouraged me. If I were to say why I like Gaveliers, it is because they support each other unconditionally. Without any doubt, University of Kelaniya Gavel Club is the best place to become an outstanding public speaker.
Gavelier LILAN DAYANANDA
Faculty of Commerce and Management
THE CHOICE I MADE
Just think of the years that have passed, the months that have already gone and the days that you have spent in your life. When pondering about your past, you may realize certain things that you have missed out, the failures you encountered and the goals that you couldn’ t achieve over the years.
Every time we set targets, we determine to spend every second in our life in a rather meaningful way. However, determination should be always accompanied by courage, self- motivation and commitment.
As undergraduates, we set bundles of targets. Nevertheless, to achieve these targets, choices that we make in life always matter. One choice that I made during my university life is to become a member of the Gavel Club of the University.
Gavel Club provides the platform to set exemplary characters. Every new member gets the opportunity to learn through the other members of the club. I must also say that the club is just one place that I have discovered on earth, where there is no disparity between freshers and senior undergraduates. The stage is always open for anybody who has the potential to speak and for anybody who is willing to speak.
“ Public Speaking” is globally defined as the performance of a speech in front of a live audience, so that the speaker shares his ideas, experiences with the audience. The University of Kelaniya Gavel Club has created the platform for emerging speakers to develop themselves in Public Speaking.
Moreover, the club encourages everybody to speak in the Round Robin session. In the Round Robin session, every member who attends the meeting gets 20 seconds to speak a few words about the theme of the day. It is interesting
“ Public Speaking” is globally defined as the performance of a speech in front of a live audience, so that the speaker shares his ideas, experiences with the audience. The University of Kelaniya Gavel Club has created the platform for emerging speakers to develop themselves in Public Speaking.
to hear all the different ideas and different experiences on each of these themes.
If not for the Gavel meeting held every Thursday from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm, at the Career Guidance Unit, all these interesting stories, humorous and advisable ideas would not be heard. Thanks to the club, the Gaveliers get an enormous opportunity to speak and to develop their speaking skills day by day.
For many, it is a place that takes away the weariness of every hectic Thursday; a place that drains away the tiredness, the nervousness and the fear, and most importantly to speak out our mind without any hesitation. The encouragement, the persuasion and the advices given by the fellow Gaveliers are really helpful in improving oneself in public speaking.
Not only that, as a club that inspire speakers in public speaking, it also helps its members to develop several other skills such as language skills, communication skills and social skills. As the young generation, we intend to see ourselves as employees in different sectors of the society in future. However, we scarcely get the opportunity to make ourselves aware of these skills. Thus, it is very important that we possess these skills while being in any working place. Hence, I see that the Gavel Club plays a major role in helping us improve these skills that attribute in us effective interaction while working in the society.
My recent visit to Italy also made me aware of how important it is to improve language skills for easy communication. I am very proud to say that we as Sri Lankans prioritize English language as much as we prioritize our mother language in speaking, as it is a well-
52 BEST SPEAKER MAGAZINE 2017