Finding the writer in me

It’s the season of the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) all over the country and I’d like to share my journey of learning and growth as a writer.

In the summer of 2022, I was in 4th grade and I enrolled in a Campus Journalism class. I thought not much of it; however, my first impression was entirely incorrect. We did a lot of fun activities and even got to broadcast live on stage. Most important, that summer class greatly improved my confidence and encouraged me to write more, and I developed a love for reading books and writing stories.

When I was in 5th grade, one of my teachers, Pastor Mark Myron Joson, discovered that I had a talent for writing. He placed me in the event for feature writing and I was now about to be a contestant for the upcoming DSPC that year.

I accepted the opportunity for multiple reasons. First of all was that I would only get two shots at this – one in fifth grade and one in sixth grade. Secondly, the training was free and I would like to further enhance my writing skills and learn more things through the training.

The time of my very first DSPC came, May 15 and 16, 2023. It was a day I have been wanting to experience for a long time. I wasn’t there just to experience, I was there to win, and I was prepared. I was excited and nervous at the same time.

The topic was the intense summer heat. I thanked God because it was something really easy to get an angle on. I wrote it from the POV of a public school student whose daily life and school life are being constantly bothered by the intense heat of summer.

At the awarding on the second day, my heart started to race. As the 5th and 4th placers were called, I was getting more and more nervous. And then, in the midst of my thoughts, I heard... 3rd place, Willary Abriol!

My heart skipped a beat. Was my name actually being called? As I saw my friends cheering for me, I rushed to the stage, took a few pictures with my coach Aires Rasonable and claimed my certificate.

My mind couldn’t stop racing. I was actually going to Albay for the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC)! I couldn’t contain my excitement.

Fast forward to the day of the RSPC. I was shocked because the topic was the departure of TVJ from “Eat Bulaga” and the show’s discontinuation. I did not know much about the topic, and my mind went blank.

My first RSPC has served as a lesson to me, that no matter how good you are in writing or knowing the format perfectly or the different types of formats to use, when you don’t know the topic, you’re done. What do you have to write if you don’t know anything, right?

Lesson learned: If you intend to participate in a journalism competition, ensure that you are always updated on current events, both local and international.

*      *      *

Willary Abriol is a Grade 6 student of Blessed Lights International Christian Academy in Naga City.