What gets lost finds its way back and blooms even brighter than before

August 14, 2026

Dear Diary, 

It’s been more than two weeks since the first leg of JournQuest concluded.

Everyone is still hungover from the joy of seeing your orgmates in person. The executive editors, whom I traveled the three islands of the Philippines with, still send each other ‘I miss you’ texts like exes who broke up and parted ways.

Facing reality after the tour means having to split my attention between organizational duties and schoolworks again. As I’m writing this essay, I have a Chemistry assignment that’s waiting for me. 

I chose the path high school Prashanti would not believe in — to continue serving journalism despite pursuing STEM in college. 

There are days when I feel left out from my peers in Explained PH; my peers who pursued humanities, communication, and journalism. I later on realized how amazing it is, to be able to practice my advocacy despite having to choose practicality over passion.

I cried about not being able to walk up the stage like every campus journalist once went through. I locked myself in a bathroom cubicle and cried my eyes out during my last division awarding. When I finally stepped out, the first thing I said was “Natalo ako, wala na akong opportunity na magsulat uli.”

I was proven wrong three years later.

I was able to share my passion with students who once shared the same dream as I did, to compete in the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC). I saw myself in the high school students who sat during my lecture, placed in a category they had no experience in, but still proceeded because of their passion in journalism. 

While my dream of competing ended two years ago, the passion I had for journalism never did.

JournQuest became an outlet for me to reconnect with journalism like a lost lover.

I may not be an NSPC winner or have years of experience like the other speakers during JournQuest, but there are still students who trusted me to learn from me. How cool is that?

When I served as the Partnerships Head of Explained PH for two years, I barely interacted with my orgmates. One, I was afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone, and two, there was no need for it as I usually worked independently.

However, JournQuest gave me the chance to see them in person. In those ten days, I chatted with them, saw famous landmarks together, and finally felt the sense of camaraderie I’ve missed out on.

I did not join any college organizations to give my entire attention to Explained PH. I may not be able to experience university life like how they did it in the movies, but the organization I had since grade 11 made me live in a film trailer. I no longer feel shy sending a message in our group chats, nor do I feel like I have to hold back in showing both my silly side and my ‘leader side.’

The saying “you are a museum of everyone you have ever met” has always been true for me. Although I only met most of the executive editors at the beginning of the JournQuest, I picked up some of their habits without even realizing it.

I started bringing my laptop with me all the time like Kent (especially since I forgot to pack my iPad during JournQuest). 

I started looking at Tiktoks about exotic animals like Zea. 

I started bringing my squishy everywhere with me like Margie. 

I started sending messages to group chats like Bea.

I started making jokes more often like Daiven.

I started reaching out for sour belts and am no longer afraid to show emotion like Shekinah. 

Kuya Archie Bergosa, Explained PH’s former Editor-in-Chief, served as the judge during my very first experience in press conferences. Later on, we studied in the same university for a portion of our college life. I gained some of my confidence from him, he trusted me with such a huge position and even let me see the country in person. 

I owe the person I am today to the people who share the same adoration of truth-telling as I do. 

In the famous words of Laufey’s ‘A Letter To My 13 Year Old Self’: Keep on going with your silly dream, life is prettier than it may seem.

I do think I shine the brightest when I choose to love what I love loudly and with full pride. 

xoxo,

Prashanti