JOURNALISM did not preoccupy me in the past. I’d rather focus on sports. I had wanted to be an athlete rather than a journalist. But when I incurred a dislocated right knee and had to undergo surgical realignment in 2006, I became resigned to the fact that I would never become a full-fledged athlete taking on grueling trainings and competing in tournaments.
But instead of brooding over my dashed athletic dream, I joined the Varsitarian as a sports writer.
I took the qualifying exams for the Varsitarian in 2007. A couple of the sports writers then preferred to write for the other sections such as Features and Circle. Last year, because of the shorthanded Sports section when the UAAP season opened, the Varsitarian held a special examination for sports writers. But three students applied. Are there no more aspiring sports journalists in UST?
Some journalism majors do not take to specialized journalism like sports writing because it requires them to master the jargon and each game’s complex rules and regulations. They’re also turned off by the demanding coverage requirements: a game may last three to six hours.
But for the greenhorns who take to sports writing, all these requisites are nothing. They take to the coverage.
But of course, all of these essentials are easier said than done. However, they can be mastered with hard work, dedication, and hands-on training.
In the recently held Varsitarian qualifying examination for next school year’s staff, I had thought that not too many would apply for Sports. But I was wrong as six out of 50 applicants ticked Sports as their first choice, four as their second choice and one as his third choice. This was a very positive development as last year, no applicant said Sports was his or her first choice.
To all the sports writer wannabes and the Varsitarian applicants in general, you have chosen the right extra-curricular activity. If you want a great and productive environment to nurture your journalistic or writing talent, you came to the right school organization. Furthermore, the Varsitarian is an avenue where you can broaden your horizon and discover your untapped creative potentials.
But the qualifying exams was just the first step, you still have a long way ahead. Good luck!
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Good luck to all the UST teams playing in the ongoing UAAP second semester sports and kudos to the men’s volleyball team and the lawn tennis teams for staying unbeaten in their respective tournament standings.
