My Sports Writing Triumph: ONE STEP AT A TIME

Six years had passed since I started to love writing sports articles. I am just a simple girl who was an avid fan of the Philippine Basketball Team in the SEA GAMES way back 2004? 2003? As far as I can remember, I am already a basketball aficionada when I was a little girl. Inspired by my friend who was a sports writer that time, I was indeed pushed by my envy to pursue my goal to be one of the staff of “The Sunriser” (PCES school paper). In my fifth year in grade school, I entered the school publication and became one of the staff. I am the sports writer in English that time and never did come into my mind that, that big break would lead me to competitive world of writing.

My life became more exhilarating when I first joined the Divisional Schools Press Conference held at PTC in the year 2003 and luckily, I was qualified to compete in the regionals held at Placer, Surigao del Norte. I failed to cross the threshold of NSPC but that didn’t impede my faith to give a try once again. An opportunity opened up for the second time where I resurrected in the DSPC and RSPC but as the Sports Writer in Filipino. I end up receiving higher ranks and since then I realized that “Pagsulat ng Balitang Isports” is really the field where I fit in. Tracing the road to NSPC, fortune did not abide with me… and therefore I am not a good play-maker of the game I played…I was not able to make it to the nationals for the second time and that gave me a feeling of frustration and misery.

I rested for a year during my freshmanhood for some reasons, unleashed my interest in campus journalism, and shifted to math competition. I was not able to succeed in other extra-curricular disputes and thus I promised not join in any contests forever. Though envy to my fellows triggered me to recover and rise up again, wicked pride reigned in me.

Despite the fact that fortune didn’t tolerate me, one person was there to unfasten my frustrated heart- “God is good all the time” and indeed he is the best because he gave me another opportunity- to chase once again, the world of campus journalism. I said to myself that my failures in the past were just my fighting tool in overcoming challenges that may come in my way. God would not have sent me another opportunity without any purpose thus I should not waste what he had offered… for better or for worse, I should get along with his will. Without any doubt, I screened for the vacant sports writer slot in “Ang Bituon” and fortunately I met the criteria of the position.

Few months later, as part of the school publication, we were quarantined for a week-long training for the incoming DSPC. As a new staff, I am determined to impress my fellow writers that I can make it to the next level even though I am under their superiority. My high school work out for the writing feud really differed from my elementary years of experiences. I have tasted a one-on-one critique with my school paper adviser which generated my eagerness to make my work better than ever. My perseverance became fruitful when I seized the unexpected 2^nd Place award in the Divisional Schools Press Conference 2006. My heart was filled with so much delight and I was honored to garner a high rank in the competition, higher than my colleagues in “Ang Bituon”. Although that achievement brought me on high, I can’t hide the fact that great expectations were waiting on my way. For once again, I savored defeat in climbing NSPC. Unlike the other time that I easily surrendered, now was different. Since opportunity is here, then I’m willing to accept whatever the outcome might be. I believe that there’s no harm in trying…and therefore I should strive harder to attain my very wish. I competed again in the following year and never cared about what rank I would be garnering in the DSPC as long as I would be part of the Top 7 to proceed in the regionals. In God’s righteousness, I bagged the 3^rd Place in DSPC and the turning point of my journalistic career initiated when I outshined my competitors in the Regional Schools Press Conference 2007 and clutched the exalted 3^rd place award in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte. In my first partake in the National Schools Press Conference (which took place at Koronadal City, South Cotabato), I was extremely ecstatic and though I unsuccessfully shined, I am greatly overwhelmed of a one-of-a-kind and most probably a once-in-a-lifetime conquest.

This year is the last year and the most thrilling part of my writing business. I said once again that I have to make the most of it, show to them what I really got and whatever takes, I should enjoy the remaining days and be thankful to our God Almighty for giving me the chance to join this competition. In my first step in the Cluster-based Schools Press Conference, I almost get eliminated but that didn’t rattle my faith to recover. Instead, that “almost-defeat” set off my tremendous determination to get a high-performance in the DSPC. Being back in the needle-hole battle in the RSPC gave me a horrifying feeling. Getting into the nationals last year was never an advantage for me but instead an intimidating device to pull me down. Humility in me took control to remind me of keeping my feet on the ground and be competitive in a just manner. Regional Schools Press Conference 2008 (Tandag City, Surigao del Sur), was my most treasured RSPC of all the RSPCs that I’ve gone through because it was in this event where I captured the limelight and attained my first FIRST PLACE award.

On my NSPC (Naga City, Camarines Sur) come-back, I put in mind that it was already “a win” to be back in the sought-after competition. I didn’t care if I would win or lose but suddenly I realized that this was really the moment I’ve been waiting for. If I had lost for how many times, then why not give a justice for my last write? I surrendered one time but God opened up a new opportunity for me. Why not make the most of it for his glory? I failed many times, then why did I hold this long? If I made it twice, then why not win this time?- this were just some of the questions that touched my heart and that was why… this yours truly, had successfully engraved the name: AGUSAN DEL SUR SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL in the National Schools Press Conference. I am still in the midst of euphoria this time that I could hardly believe… that I am the Pasulat ng Balitang Isports CHAMPION in the NSPC 2009.

And now that I’ve conquered the peak of my dream, I am definitely happy to leave the breakdown-victorious memory in my alma mater. We can achieve whatever we want as long as it is only for good. We should never use our failure for not trying again though we cannot undo the damages, but we can always make a new start…fighting! \m/.d(~~,)b.\m/