The 2nd Division Win: Part 2

Hey! It's the second part.

Now, where was i?

Oh yeah, about me reading the Journalism book.

For how many days I was in so much thinking, and it was all about news writing. I had surfed the 'information superhighway' and found nothing but sheer blank in my head. I had distressed myself because of this.

The day of the contest had arrived and it was so wicked! I had received special colored papers and stuck them in my pocket. (Evil laugh!) It was our allowance for the whole week. (I won't tell you what had happened with those bills. They certainly are in good purposes. Lol! And i didn't tell my sister, for if she knew, she wouldn't give me my allowance anymore.)

There were seminars before the contest and i think i had learnt more. I took down notes and studied them carefully. Ate Cherry Lou (The 'Ang Daloy' news writer) and I looked for the assigned rooms where we'll have the test. Ah, right. We were also freaking out in finding where to pee. Unfortunately, we found the one with no lock (Haha! I painstakingly watched out for might-enter people. Imagine a door with no lock!...and no water! The school's students provided us with our needs. Such a hospitable place.)

Then with the contest. It was an ordinary one. I thought we would be going to gather information and make the news ourselves but thanks! We were already given facts and we just need them to organize. It isn't necessary to put all the facts on the paper, some of them would be irrelevant. Although, they all seem to be so connected with each other. I've made drafts and reorganized every possible thing to be reorganized.

Whilst i was writing, i can't resist looking and observing at other contestants inside the room. Criticizing? I can't remember if i was. (Woaah! I can't believe i'm so hypercritical!) But i was also praying that time.

• I'm so tired of typing. I couldn't recall what exactly had happened that time. Can i just proceed with the ending?


• Wait! I remember something. Okay, i'll continue with the story. But i'll shorten it so it won't be too boring reading.

I've made some friends there, really. Some of them are only short-time. I've also observed the childishness of the Fourth Year students. It had been fun being with them. Their classmates also went and cheered for us during Radio Broadcasting. If you were there, you would really laugh big time!

It was time to award the winners. In each field, there will be 4 to be chosen to compete at the Regionals: Camiguin. Of course, i hoped i would be in. Every spoken name makes my heart pound faster. I had hoped at full length and never to disappoint any of the people who expect something from me. I've got to prove i have learned. Flashbacks come inside my mind as i waited in the noisy auditorium for the expected outcome. I had remembered the mistakes that i''d committed. I may have given my coach a little discouragement by my errors but i didn't stop believing that somehow, i had become someone who is better; someone who has learned from the mistakes. Yes it is true really.

And as the 3rd place of the news writing contest was announced, to my nervousness, ICNHS won it. But wait! There are i guess 3 ICNHS papers who joined. Which/who would become the victor? As the speakers proclaimed with their loud sound waves, i was surprised that my name was clearly pronounced. I had won! I won. I really won. I couldn't believe i'd won.

• It so cold here. The rain is very heavy. I think it's flooding already. Wait, i'll check outside.


• To my relief, the water isn't high still.

To everyone's astonishment, the Iligan City National High School first shift emerged victorious among the many schools that competed. Over-all champion. A happy trip we made home was somehow a big medicine to our overwhelmed state. The fourth year students celebrated. They even had pictures with our principal, Mr. Abundio Saavedra, Jr. What a great trophy we had there.

I must have realized that failures aren't that so hard. For all of mistakes became an inspiration and had made me strive to the fullest mind strength i have.

The 2nd Division Win: Part 1

"Failure is the mother of success." I don't know who originally said this but I've heard this this morning during the 'They Kiss Again' program in Studio 23, this quote was spoken by Jeanie (if that ever is the correct spelling of her name).

They told me ma'am Coloma was looking for me. I wondered why. After the long, long time disregarding their calls, i went to the office (the schoolpaper's) and met with ma'am. I saw there many of the fourth year students who are also members of the paper. She talked to me and asked me if i was willing to join them and be the newswriter...asked me if i had experiences when i was elementary...compete in presscons... and i said "never". And i also don't have much talent in writing news. I dunno if i have much confidence, but since i already thickened my face a bit during the Science contests, then why not try the Press Conference?

"It may help you boost up your confidence more," i said to myself.

Although i'm not that good with news, although i am not gutsy enough to compete again, although i'm beginning to think pessimistically for another time, i tried to answer ma'am Coloma's question with a reluctant "Yes, I am willing to learn."

I remembered so far i thought to myself, "What have i done again?"

Uuugghh! Those words. I really get into my own nerves. I am not valorous enough to face a new challenge. (I speak like i'm obliged to.)

There is no turning back. I already said yes. I guess i'm being afraid of ma'am. You know, i become frightened when she's in the mood (the bad mood). And i hate to see dismay in people's eyes.

I just "impregnated" (i like using fancy words, if that ever is fancy) in my mind that this'll help me more in my academics, in my extra-curricular activities. I guess it's not too bad. I even think that i'm the only one who avoids opportunities (when i even know that much more talented people than i am, lose in competitions) when other people don't even mind if they win or lose. What do i think of myself? Maybe that time, or shall i say, maybe all the time, i am being "avoidant" of failures. (Wow! I thought of avoidant as a word, then i browsed the dictionary to see if it exists, and i've read 'avoidant personality disorder'... but no avoidant alone, but since it's used already in that phrase, maybe i could use it.)

• Now i am being more narrative than ever. My past blogs were just composed of little details (as far as i can think, i am always unsure...never mind that). I didn't even try to use some metaphors, personifications and et cetera.

I Proceed:

Ma'am Coloma, who was my English teacher during my freshman year, trained me to the highest level of her psychic powers. (Don't get me wrong with the words i use, i just like exaggerating when writing or whatever, i don't exaggerate true stories...grrr! Just don't mind me!) I have had a hard time learning. All i did were still 1 or 2 mistakes away from perfection!...or even more than 2.

My knowledge isn't deep enough as the Pacific Ocean, and i am starting to worry. I tried being optimistic as Betty La Fea was (if it had already been aired during that time). My coach gave me some tips...papers...books...encouragements also, i think...and some works to do.

Oh! I am so far still. I've been traveling for--like an hour, but i'm not still in the earth's core!!! (There i go again with those words...what figure of speech did i just use? Ooohh... I am so addicted to English) I studied hard and prepared myself for all the disasters that i will be facing, exaggeratingly speaking, and i had read the "all-about Journalism" book that was given to me for...many times.

• (Startled) Oh no! It's 30 minutes past 2 am. I need to sleep. I'll continue the story tomorrow. If i have time. But i know i will. I need to take some rest. And for the computer also. I pity it. Let's not make it work 24/7.


• Oh, and by the way, i'll tell you what the quote (the one i said above, at the first paragraph) means to me and how it is connected to my story.


• This post will be long enough that i need to divide it to how many parts. But i guess 2 will do. [I am surprised that i become loquacious during nights, or dark times (literally), ideas easily 'spore' in my head. What a nocturnal mind.]


• Wow! A thought just came into my brain. Writers usually work at night i suppose. LOL. Am i showing the signs and symptoms of "Writer's Syndrome"? Well, if true, then i'm glad i have them. (Laughing!) Perhaps, i need not to lengthen this post anymore, it'll be boring if it's too long. It's also tiring to read such long stories.

End of part 1.