By: Jobert Mendoza
I am a journalist from grade 4 until now grade 12, I am also a radio broadcaster who has a dream of reaching National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) and also wanted to give something memorable before leaving my dear elementary school until high school but I guess I lost that battle because I was only a Division Schools Press Conference awardee and did not even went to the regional stage in all journalism competition.
I first started being a journalist when I was in grade 4 at Gloria Central School with my mentor Evangeline Alzate. It was actually a life changing decision for me to enter this type of competition. It was another skill added to mine. I started as a writer because this is where it all will start. I was able to learn different types of news from news stories, editorial, feature or even sports news which helps me a lot. I was not expecting to actually win at my first try but luckily I was able to grab 5th place for news writing and 3rd for feature writing this leads me to the DSPC where I ended up short and was only at 13th place not good enough to move on to the next competition. The next year I was moved to Radio broadcasting and accepted a bigger role to be its anchor I was so afraid at my first competition but one thing that is for sure is I enjoyed it, after this my adviser told me “Next year last year mo na kukunin na natin yung champion” this message actually boost me up to strive and practice more. Grade 6 my last year at school and all eyes are on us. We actually won in the District level and I was awarded as best anchor moving on to the DSPC. We came up short again and only placed second. It was really devastating since it is my last year , but I just have to let it go.
Then came my high school journey I am a part of Talabalita the official newspaper of OMNHS things are good in first place because I am not yet competing but after grade 7 and 8, I have realized that I still have some unfinished business with broadcasting so I decided to audition for Radio broadcasting which our school is known for because of its great caliber and history. It was a really big shoes to fill after the departure of Kuya Paolo Bukid the anchor, at my first try in high school we did not win and was not able to grab and medal so I said to our graduating members the Marinel Manimtim that we will fight better next year, so grade 10 4 of our members our graduating in the name of Kuya AC, Ate Samantha, Ate Sophia and Kuya Dilan we dedicated our best to win for our team to go Tagaytay because OMNHS radio broadcasting Filipino team has never been it that position so it will be history for us , but again we ended up as 3rd it was another heartbreaking moment for our team but our hopes did not stop us we practiced already after the competition and recruited but here comes the pandemic where all of our goals and dreams vanished like a bubble.
This is where I ended up my high school career as a broadcaster I may actually lose the battle to achieve our goal but there is one big win that we achieve our team Pasada Balita submitted an entry for National Campus Press Olympiad Opening BillBoard competition and luckily we was able to be recognized in the 6th best OBB in national and another win that I can say we had was the memories and learning we was able to gather all throughout my journey and I am sure that there are still more opportunities to come for me.
Pieces of Me 