It’s a tiring day yet a very worthwhile one. I guess being able to share what I know and being listened to for what I know are just some of the few things that made a day in my February.
It’s 8:00 o’clock in the morning and I’m already sitting in front of the Miagao Cultural Hall, still half-awake due to a sleepless night. Together with the other members of the Media.Com Journalism Committee, we had our final briefing at the stairs of the Cultural Hall. Well, this is gonna be the day we would conduct “iWrite”, a journalism workshop that the Journalism Committee have been committedly doing since the conception of Media.Com. We go to various schools in Miagao every year to teach basic journalism. This year, we were splitted into two teams to conduct “iWrite” simultaneously in Miagao Central School and Guibongan Elementary School.
I was assigned in Miagao Central School which was pretty good since it was just a few walks away from the Cultural Hall. Upon arriving at the school, we had a courtesy call with the Principal and soon after, we were already faced-to-faced with our 32 cheerful Grade VI students. Fortunately, all our students were quite energetic and lively which made it a lot easier for us to break the ice.
After ensuring that they are already hyped up to listen to us, we started the discussion. Of course, we started with the most basic in journalism, the news writing followed by feature writing. It was nice because the students were actively participating in the discussion and enthusiastically doing the writing activities given to them. However as the hours ticked by, I can already feel the student’s dropping energy and their growing interest in recess and lunch break. And so to not totally lose their attention in the lecture, we gave them a break to at least clear their minds out and fill their stomachs. After the all the students took their breaks, this time, it’s the ice that needs a break. And so to re-energize them once again, we made them do a couple of singing and dancing to at least renew their losing interest and regain their fading energy. Fortunately, the ice block of lost attention and vanished enthusiasm was melted. Thereafter, we continued to lecture on copyreading and eventually to the last part of the workshop, editorial writing. However unlike the other topics, it took an hour and a lot of my energy to finish.
Ironically, I’m not good at communicating especially if it involves speaking in front of people. I can’t totally convey what I want to say. The feeling is that, I have my thoughts orderly arranged in my mind but when these thoughts reach my tongue, just like the universe, it enters entropy or the state of disorderliness. They just get jumbled. That is why when I’m in front of people; it feels like I’m floating in the universe—lost.
But then again, I have to come back to the earth and to my own senses. I’m here to share my own knowledge and at least help these students improve and even discover some hidden potentials in them. And since its editorial I’m most confident with, then, at least I know I can pull off teaching.
Yey! Lucky enough, I was not lost in space. Haha
Photo Credits to Rhea Germia
However, editorial is much more complicated and critical compared to news and feature writing and even the time of the day is not helping since it’s already the time when drowsiness hits you most. Luckily, the students didn’t make it hard for me because they were surprisingly quite attentive and participative during the lecture. I was surprised with myself, the words didn’t jumble and I didn’t say weird things. Maybe because they were younger than me? Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing’s for sure, I was able to pull teaching off! And take note, with confidence.
Well, all the students have the potential for journalism. All it takes is proper training and practice of their skills. I’m happy that I was at least able to become an instrument in improving and developing these young kids’ potential. Just thinking of this, the whole experience was totally all worth it. Thank you students!
Congrats, kids. Job well done, everyone!
Photo Credits to Rhea Germia
YOUth can. 