I’m Rtr. Nadeesha Nilupul, Co-director of Digital Media Avenue, and I am currently in my third year, pursuing my MIT degree. When I first entered university, I was not involved in any clubs at all. During my first year, I focused entirely on academic and departmental work, without really exploring extracurricular activities.

However, everything began to change at the beginning of my second year. I felt a strong need to be part of something more—to experience university life beyond academics. When I asked around about different clubs, the one that truly caught my interest was Rotaract. At that time, one of my batchmates, Ashan, had already joined the club. I asked him to help me get in, even though the term was already nearing its end.

Ashan was part of the Club Service avenue, and he had a close connection with Himantha aiya, who was one of the directors. Through Ashan, I was introduced and recommended, especially highlighting my interest and skills in design work. Because of that, Himantha aiya gave me an opportunity to join the club as a prospect member.

My very first project was “Rota Wasantha Udanaya 2025.” During this project, I got the chance to work in the PR side, and one of my first contributions was designing a template for the Aurudu Kumara and Kumariya segment. The design was well received, and that moment gave me a lot of confidence. From there onwards, I became more involved in PR work throughout the project.

That period was unforgettable—not just because of the work, but because of the people. Late-night tasks became normal, and those long hours helped me bond closely with an amazing group:Himantha aiya, Madhawa aiya, Isurika, Thenul, Dinuki, Ranjula, Hansi akka, and Hiruni akka. Working with them never felt like a burden. We supported each other, had fun, and created something meaningful together.

One person I can never forget from that time is Pr Dinuki. Even at midnight, she would message asking for flyer revisions needed by the morning. It was exhausting at times, but also part of the fun and energy that made the experience special.

After that, I got involved in another project, “Kelani Handawa.” During this time, Himantha aiya trusted me with more responsibility and asked me to handle the PR side. I ended up managing a major portion of it, and for my effort, I was recognized as the “Most Enthusiastic Member.” At that point, I was still just a prospect member, but that recognition meant a lot to me.

Then came a turning point in my journey. After working consistently for about three months, I was given the opportunity to step into a much bigger role—I was selected as the Co-Director of Digital Media Avenue. That moment made me realize something important: if you truly commit yourself to club work, you can achieve something meaningful.

I owe a special thanks to Himantha aiya for believing in me and giving me that opportunity. Without his trust and guidance, I wouldn’t be here today, even writing this story.

As a director, life became more challenging but also more rewarding. I had to balance club responsibilities, academics, and personal work all at once. It was not easy, but it taught me discipline, responsibility, and time management.

Before I officially became a director, during the time of the “Kelani Handawa” project, Himantha aiya had already told me about a person named Sithika aiya. Later on, he even helped me get in contact with him. After that, we started working together, and we handled the PR side for the farewell event as well. Interestingly, the first time I actually met him in person was on the day of the farewell.

From his WhatsApp profile picture, I had imagined him to be a tall person, but when I finally saw him that day, he looked a bit shorter than I expected 😪. My first impression changed a bit, but his determination and attitude were truly admirable. He’s also part of the basketball team, which was pretty impressive.

Anyway, he became one of my fellow Co-Directors in the Digital Media avenue. When it comes to design, he’s extremely talented—almost like a “logo king.” He’s also very confident when speaking, and because of that, I usually end up staying quiet during most meetings just to keep things balanced.

Another Co-Director was our own Devi Yashodara. She’s a huge BTS lover—which, honestly, I hate 😪—but she’s such a fun and entertaining character. Among all of us, I’d say I’m the strongest one, and one of my favorite things is teasing Yashodara akka 😂. It doesn’t take much—just saying something against BTS is enough to start it 😂.

The way she talks about BTS, you’d think even Sri Lankan politics is less intense than her arguments about them 😂. She’s a top-level fan for sure—her hairstyle, her outfits, everything reflects that.

But jokes aside, when it comes to design, she’s incredibly talented. She’s truly a “Canva queen.” The way she uses Canva sometimes feels like she’s working in Photoshop—we even get confused at times. Honestly, she’s an amazing and unique character.

Then there’s Kareema from the EXCO. She usually wears a mask—probably to avoid any “evil eye” 😪—and she’s also a bit tall. But overall, she’s an incredibly hardworking and reliable person who gives her best in everything she does.

She’s really fun to be around. At first, we all thought she was very innocent—she speaks so calmly and gently. But suddenly, towards the end of the term, she would drop the most unexpected Sinhala words in the group chats, and we’d all be completely confused 😂.

Anyway, she’s an amazing person—truly kind, supportive, and just overall great.

Even though I became a Director in Digital Media, to be honest, I spent most of my time with the Club Service avenue. That’s where I started, and it was the group I was most familiar and comfortable with. Naturally, I preferred being there most of the time.

During that time, there was Madhawa aiya from the club. Even though he was more experienced, he always spoke to us like we were the same age, making everything feel relaxed and fun. From the day I joined Rotaract, we’ve been close, always joking around and enjoying the work together.

Of course, he also used to get work done from Digital Media—just like Sithika aiya said, more like “free service” 😂. And if things went a little off track, he wouldn’t hesitate to scold us a bit 😂😂.

But honestly, he’s a really fun character and someone who made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Rotaract was never just about projects—it was about the friendships and memories we built along the way. Even now, we still go out together, travel, eat, and spend time as a group. Names like Madhawa aiya, Isurika, Nimthara, Dinuki, and Ranjula represent more than teammates—they are part of my journey.

One of the things I loved most was the moment after completing a project—when everyone would gather and reflect on what happened, what went right, and what could be improved. Those conversations were meaningful and showed how much we had grown together.

I also had the chance to meet past directors and presidents, learning from their experiences and gaining valuable insights. Events like the leadership camp in Kitulgala were unforgettable, filled with fun, learning, and bonding.

As a director, I was involved in many major projects. One of the biggest was the pageant, where our team handled the entire PR aspect. It was a huge responsibility, but we successfully completed it, and that brought immense satisfaction.

I also want to thank Himantha aiya once again for trusting me and giving me such a big responsibility—handling the entire PR side of Career Fair 2026. It was a major task, but it gave me the opportunity to take on real responsibility and prove myself.

I couldn’t have done it alone, so I also want to mention my team: Thenul, Thilanga, Osanda, Vimukthi, Indudara, Methmi, Thilini, and Thulani. With their support, we were able to successfully complete the PR work for the Career Fair, and I’m truly happy about that.

Once again, I’m genuinely grateful to Himantha aiya for giving me this opportunity—it really meant a lot.

Sometimes I tend to forget things like the club alarm and Deepna akka. I even thought I might get disciplinary action, but surprisingly I didn’t 😄. I’ve missed quite a few meetings because I often used to give excuses, especially in the beginning. But somehow, I managed to handle everything and still get the work done properly with the team.

Honestly, on meeting days I completely forget about them, and something always seems to go wrong 😪

Another unforgettable experience was during Rota Tomorrow 😪. Back then I had to handle PR approvals for Teams 6 to 10. It was honestly one of the most hectic but also one of the most exciting events for me—I really enjoyed it.

And not gonna lie, I got to meet so many people during that time, especially a lot of girls from the teams. They actually used to check up on me a lot 😄. Sometimes, they would even call early in the morning just to see if I was okay, even before my alarm went off.

To be honest, I was really happy about that. So much so that I used to start my day by thinking about all those people who were always around me and checking on me.

Now that all of that is gone… it feels a bit empty 😪

Looking back, my Rotaract journey has been filled with happiness, challenges, friendships, and growth. There were stressful moments and difficult days, but overall, it shaped me into a better and more confident person.

I am deeply grateful to Himantha aiya for guiding me to this path, and to everyone who supported me along the way.

At the beginning, I even had a small hope of finding a life partner through Rotaract—but as the journey comes close to an end, it seems I might be finishing it alone after all.

Still, leaving the club is not easy. It feels like letting go of something very special.

In the end, what remains are the memories—the laughter, the struggles, the friendships, and the experiences that will stay with me forever.

And for all of that, I simply say… thank you.