WHEN I was in high school, I vowed not to be active in extra-curricular activities in college.
This resolution, perhaps, was a result of the exhaustion brought by my engagements in different activities in high school, where I was an active member of our school theater club, campus paper, and student government, among others.
To be faithful to my college resolution, I rested for a year, doing the college’s academic demands and spending quality time with my high school friends.
But as the popular saying goes, promises are made to be broken.
It was during my first summer in college that I realized that I needed extra-curricular activities for experience and in preparation for life after graduation.
Since I was a Journalism student, I aimed to become a member of the Varsitarian, the 83-year-old institution that produced many of today’s brightest and undaunted pens in Philippine journalism. I told myself that no matter what happened, entering the student publication was a must.
So one time, I was browsing the Internet where I found an advertisement that said the Varsitarian was in need of sports writers. Even without any prior experience in sports writing, I quickly asked for details and eventually took the exam.
I invited my friend, who is a sports fanatic, to also try the examination, thinking that she would also need this opportunity. Beginner’s luck did not work for me as my friend got the coveted slot.
Weeks later, the Varsitarian opened slots for photographers. Desperate to enter the publication, I submitted my resume for the second time and hoped for a second chance. And this time, I nailed it.
My Varsitarian experience was the most meaningful and colorful adventure of my life as a student. The publication and its people cracked me out of the shell of my own insecurities, and brought out the confidence that I never had when I entered college.
After two and a half years of working in the Varsitarian, I could now say that the promise that I made in high school was really worth breaking.
To my greatest mentor, friend, and father in the Varsitarian, Lito Zulueta, the lectures, reprimands, and the lessons you taught me will always be kept in my mind to guide me in my future endeavors.
I would also like to give my gratitude to my parents for their support and for accepting the nature of my job—late-night coverage and overnight presswork, among others.
To QJrn1, especially “Team Petix,” thank you for rescuing me during the most depressing time of my college life.
To Cha, Jilly, Darenn, and Cliff, my blockmates whom I encouraged to enter this organization, I hope I did not fail in helping you find happiness and family in the Varsitarian.
To my batchmates, Nicole and Alexa, even though you had an earlier exit, I know that you only left the office but did not leave us as our friends.
To Josa, Ramon, Carla, Jilson, Brylle, Marnee, Cam, Melai, and Cham, like what I always tell you: just chill and always rock and roll.
Play and work defined this year’s Circle section of the Varsitarian. To Anime, take the shift from Circle to Literary as an opportunity to improve your storytelling skills that you may apply as film director in the future. Ernest, extend the “fun in work” that we always do in Circle to the 2012 Varsitarian batch. And to Alya, thank you for the lessons and the “crispness” that we shared, I know that you’ll never fail me in handling Circle and Inkblots.
To next year’s batch of staffers, take care of the publication, maximize your capabilities, and always make the environment of the office happy; this will at least ease the toxic that the work gives you.
And to my friends who gained the “Amihan” title earlier than I did—Levine, Samboy, Alena, Clyntoot, Joseinne, Akemi, Rona, Rose May, and others—thank you for teaching me things in life. You have proven that Varsitarian is not just a student publication but also a family.
And lastly, to Jeremy and Paul, who had my back when I was prone to falling down, saying thank you is not enough to compensate the things that you did to me. I still can’t believe those crazy adventures we had, such as taking a ride in a patrol vehicle and the hurried trip to Sagada. I am glad that I’ve shared them all with the two of you.
The experience and the preparation for the bigger world that I yearn not to conquer are not the only things that I got from ‘V’, but also the bonus of having a home and a family that I will treasure, not to mention the heartbreaks that will serve as life’s lessons.
Like what other Varsitarian alumni say, I am proud to be a Thomasian, but I am even prouder to be a Varsitarian staffer. Once a ‘V’ staffer, always a ‘V’ staffer!
