Hello hello hello, everyone!!! How are you all doing, my friends? I hope you're all doing well and having a fantastic day!!. It's been a lot of activity lately as I've been deeply immersed in academic pursuits and exciting contests. But now, I'm finally back again! it's me, haruki.tls123 back with a new blog post! ✌🏻
So just like I've said earlier, I am previously immersed from a contests and that's the reason why didn't post anything yet because I'm so busy, and right now on this blog , I'm excited to bring you along on my journey to this specific contest... One of the most big and anticipated events of all journalist, the Regional Schools Press Conference 2024!
This event holds a special place in my heart as it marked not only a significant milestone in my academic journey but also served as a memorable and impactful experience that I'll cherish forever so let's go now and I'll start my blog^^!
As you know from my previous blog, I won in the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) for science and technology writing. Winning in DSPC means I get to compete in RSPC, which is a dream come true for many journalists. I felt really happy because being part of RSPC is a big deal and a huge honor.
So why is RSPC such a big event and a dream for many journalists and writers? RSPC stands for Regional Schools Press Conference, and it's regional, right? It's where you represent your city against all the other cities in your region. Our region is Region 7, which has more than 20 divisions. There were about 4 thousand participants, so it was a bit nerve-wracking for me, but I was more excited than nervous for this amazing opportunity.
Before the big event, I underwent training in writing about science and technology. However, I didn't plan on winning because I had another upcoming regional contest, the Festival of Talents. For now, I just wanted to experience the joy of participating in RSPC.
The Regional Schools Press Conference is a week-long event from April 8-12, held in Talisay City, Cebu. On April 8, I packed my essentials like clothes, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, soap, and of course, paper and pen since we were staying overnight. Then, all the participants from our division in our school gathered. In our school, we had around five or six participants. It's not easy to win in DSPC, so there were only a few of us from our school, but I felt lucky to be among them. The time came for us to leave, and the nerves kicked in, but I was also excited, especially when I was starting to chitchat to my schoolmates Ralph and Francheska. Around 5 pm, we boarded our service heading to Talisay.
Around 7 pm, we arrived at the location, which was Talisay City Elementary School. We were amazed at how spacious the school was, so different from our own school:>
Upon arrival, we quickly grabbed our belongings and received our RSPC T-shirts. We then went to our assigned room, where we had dinner and prepared for the parade scheduled for the next morning. It was an exciting start to our RSPC journey 🤩.
Early in the morning of April 9, the parade took place, and I was incredibly excited for it. We prepared water and had breakfast beforehand, despite the intense heat, the excitement and the sheer number of participants from different areas across Region 7 made it all worth it.
During the parade, you could see various banners representing different divisions, from Cebu City to Cebu Province to our city of Naga, and many more. It was amazing to think that we were competing against participants from different divisions—it was unlike any other contest I had been a part of 😩. After the parade came the opening program, which featured performances by some students. This helped ease the nerves because shortly after the opening, I would be diving into my contest scheduled at 3:30 pm in Asian College of Technology.
After the lively opening program, my coach Ma'am Judy and I got ready for my event. We had lunch at Chowking nearby, where I changed into my school uniform. Everytime I wear my school uniform, I always felt the strength within me, making me feel proud and ready to compete for my school 🙌🏻.
After lunch, when we arrived at the contest venue, I started feeling a bit nervous as I saw many students lined up for the science and technology writing journalism category, where I also belonged.
We were lined up and ushered into the room, where instructions were given, and then the moment came to keep our belongings away as the contest was about to begin. We were handed a fact sheet about science and technology, and that was what we had to write about in our journal. The topic? Artificial Intelligence. It was such a broad topic, and as I glanced at the other students beside me, some of them were smiling confidently, perhaps feeling well-prepared because they had reviewed extensively on such a topic. While I had also reviewed about AI, I knew there were others who were better than me, so I didn't expect to win. This was all about gaining experience for me.
After the contest, I finally felt a bit relieved and we went back home to our City of Naga. However, we were scheduled to return on April 12, Friday, for the awarding ceremony. We joked that maybe one of us would win, but the reality it was actually true that only one of us will win HAHAHAHHAH. One of my schoolmates won second place in the science and technology journalism category, and we congratulated her because winning at RSPC meant she would compete at the NSPC, the National Schools Press Conference, where she would represent our region against others from across the Philippines, congratulations to her!!! and goodluck 🤞🏻🍀
As for me, I wasn't aiming to win there, as I had another regional contest, the Festival of Talents, where I felt more confident. In that contest, I had to create stories, which is something I enjoy because I love reading books and crafting stories inspired by them. Even though only one of us placed in the awards, we still celebrated our participation in the RSPC. It's not every day that we get to be part of such a prestigious event, and the experience was truly memorable and valuable. Before heading home, we treated ourselves to some Lechon at a local eatery, sharing stories and laughter as we reminisced about the day.
While I didn't bring home a medal, I carried with me the joy and memories that I will cherish forever.
Participating in the Regional Schools Press Conference was an incredible journey filled with learning, excitement, and camaraderie. Although I didn't win a medal, the experience itself was a triumph. It taught me the value of perseverance, the importance of teamwork, and the joy of pursuing my passion for writing and storytelling. Being surrounded by talented peers and mentors during the event inspired me to improve and strive for excellence in my craft.
Looking back, I am grateful for every moment, from the nerve-wracking contest preparations to the jubilant celebrations with my friends. These memories will always hold a special place in my heart, reminding me of the valuable lessons learned and the friendships forged. As I move forward, I carry with me the pride of having participated in such a prestigious event and the determination to continue growing as a writer and leader.
So now as I end this blog post, I want to leave you with a message of encouragement and positivity. Remember that every experience, whether a success or a setback, is a stepping stone towards growth and self-discovery. Embrace challenges, learn from them, and use them as fuel to propel yourself forward. Believe in your abilities, trust the process, and never give up on your dreams and also, always belief in the power of teamwork!!!
As I look forward to my upcoming regional contest in the Festival of Talents from April 22-26, I am determined to give my best in the playwright contest. I'm excited to showcase my storytelling skills and create something meaningful and inspiring. With determination and God's grace, I hope to deliver a performance that resonates with the audience and captures the essence of storytelling^^. So that concludes my blog. Thank you for reading, and I hope you always find joy and fulfillment in your daily endeavors. Stay happy, stay inspired, and keep chasing your dreams. haruki.tls123 out! See you in my next blog, sayonara!<3 ❤️
Time to dive back into the busyness of life with renewed enthusiam and perseverance!! Congratulations to all of the RSPC journalist out there ✊🏻🏆!!!
