Fun, after the panic

SATURDAY morning, the clock apparently sensed that I was in a hurry. It stopped working as I rushed to prepare, as if an earthquake was ripping through our house.

I rushed downstairs to fix my things and then left the house right away. I had to suffer through the scorching heat of the morning, I felt relief upon finally getting a cab.

Inside, I wondered, what waits for me on my second OJT? Maybe the editor will ask me to write a news story, a feature, an editorial, maybe sports news, or whatever.

I arrived with a security guard opening the door for me and telling me that my classmates were already upstairs. I was ready to rush up, except that the guard required that I log in first.

I was 30 minutes late and have missed some of the discussion. I felt I will be left behind, I thought. It seemed that my classmates were late as well as it was just five minutes into the discussion. I saw them all, Matz, Ate Jen, Dez, Gwen, Apple, Isa, Noah… one is lacking. Oh, May.

Ma’am Stella, the EIC discussed about clear writing urging us to think first before writing.

Your ability to express yourself through writing rest upon your ability to think clearly, she said. Having said that, she added, we have to get to the point. One paragraph, one idea. Use Familiar words, prefer the simple to the complex. Omit verbal deadwood, and keep your sentences short. But most important of all, write to express, not to impress.

She then clarified the difference between creative writing and news writing, saying both are equally important but are of different discipline.

We just didn’t learn, but we had a lot of fun. On the job training at Sun.Star is a big break in my life. (Abigail Bilao, IV-Ponce)