Beyond the Byline: How JournQuest affirmed the purpose I never planned for

Reign Adelheid Alcantara

If you had asked me when I was fourteen what I wanted to be when I grew up, Journalism would not have been my answer.

Back then, I imagined my future self solving problems through equations, and designing structures that would one day withstand the test of time. Nowhere in the blueprint of my life would you find a space for Journalism because to me,  it was merely an opportunity I decided to explore to make my high school years more memorable.

Little did I know that the organization that I had joined at the tender age of fourteen would change my own plans on life and alter the perception that I hold the world in.

Because of my experiences over the last three years, journalism has taught me to be more considerate of others, to meet deadlines with ease, and to carry myself with honor. Journalism has made me who I am today, letter by letter, word by word and line by line.

However, the journey was far from easy.

Leadership can appear glamorous at first glance. Behind the scenes, however, were thousands of hours of hard work that made it all possible. There were moments when I questioned my decisions as I juggled between my professional responsibilities, social life, and studies. 

After all, more than once, I felt that I was not doing enough for campus journalism, both in my capacity as the Editor-in-Chief of The Equilibrium and a role model to my younger colleagues. Given my demeanor, people would often ask me:

“Ano bang mapapala mo sa Journalism na ’yan?”

I never knew how to answer that question until Ate Bea reached out on behalf of Explained PH to host JournQuest at our school, the Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science.

When I first heard the news that our school will be the venue for an event that will gather a number of enthusiastic journalists from all over Valenzuela, my heart was pounding with excitement and nervousness. This was an opportunity of a lifetime, something that I could never think to achieve. I knew I had a big responsibility to fulfill in organizing this event, so we, as an organization, accepted the challenge to become a part of Explained PH’s Journquest.

However, alongside the excitement came the weight of responsibility. Behind every successful journalism event are countless preparations, decisions, and uncertainties that are often unseen by participants. Suddenly,  I was no longer just a journalist attending workshops, I was a leader entrusted with helping create an environment where young journalists could learn and discover their own voices.

Throughout the preparation process, I faced challenges that tested my leadership. From dealing with the staff and school authorities to making sure all the preparations were made, I had to ensure that our organization, The Equilibrium, worked extra hard in order to accomplish this event that will surely leave a big impact on all  the young journalists who will attend it.

Yet during JournQuest itself, I found the answer I had been searching for.

I saw it in the faces of students who eagerly participated in the workshops. I saw it in the curiosity of young journalists who asked questions and shared their experiences. I saw it in the conversations of people brought together by the same passion for storytelling.

Amidst the rush, I found myself appreciating every moment. The same field that once gave me a place to express my voice was now allowing me to help create a platform for others to find theirs.

Through all the challenges, be it preparing for the event or handling some of the other problems, I have learned that being a true leader requires being patient and supportive and helping others learn, as well as learning together with them. More than anything, JournQuests answered the question I once struggled to respond to.

“What can journalism give me?”

Looking back, I never became the version that fourteen-year-old me envisioned becoming. Instead, JournQuest reminded me that somewhere between my first byline and my last year of high school, journalism had quietly become the path I was meant to take. JournQuest became more than an event to organize. It became the moment that affirmed the purpose I never planned for.