Campus journalism is close to my heart.

It is the foundation of who I am today — from my years of honing my craft and competing as a young writer since Grade 4, up to my college days when I took my communication degree in Manila, my career path was plain and simple: I wanted to write and make a living out of it.

As the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), the Olympics of campus journalism, comes to a close today, Friday, May 23, in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, one would wonder – from the sea of journos realizing their dreams of representing their provinces in the biggest stage of all – who among them would actually be media practitioners in the near future?

The smallest percentage, I guess.

Elementary and secondary students train for months to qualify from the division level, the regionals, and to the nationals, where only the champion from each of the 17 areas could set foot on the grandest battle for budding scribes, cartoonists, photojournalists, and even broadcasters.

It is where fact-checking, coherence, command of language, and pure intellectual edge are paramount, with the best being awarded as NSPC winner, a title one would remember and cherish for a lifetime.

My journey as a campus writer started as an editorial writer in Filipino for the Division of Quezon City, and from there I have traveled to places I would only see on the pages of textbooks. Instantly, I fell in love – from the moment I drafted my first piece, and up to the present when writing has become second nature and as imperative as breathing.

But as I continued my passion in campus journalism by being a trainer for these kids as they progress in a competitive environment, I pondered for a while, will they actually take communication courses for tertiary education? Not even close to what I have assumed.

Dave, a Grade 11 student from Oriental Mindoro, wants civil engineering, same as Khloey and Kyle of Calapan City. Christian, one of the best in the game in the Filipino category, will take up nursing.

Down south, Gene, although still young to have a concrete plan for college, wants engineering, too. Roxel of Tagum City and Vince of Davao de Oro, meanwhile, are pursuing medical technology.

Of the eight I have asked, only Isabelle of Davao City is chasing her ambition of becoming a journalist someday.

In reality, thousands of students who have flocked to Vigan for the weeklong contest see campus journalism as a one-way ticket to personal merit, a reward for devoting time and effort in a field they truly love. But they don't see it as a profession in the years to come — a mere extra curricular on paper and a memory worth reminiscing from time to time.

But the power of the pen is as mighty as one's burning desire to shift to another vocation. Writing is deeply rooted in our mastery of things and could outweigh any other technical knowledge other degrees could offer.

In a world where accuracy and integrity matter, campus journalists of yesteryears are today's guardians of truth.

To all the young writers who plan to be engineers, nurses, educators, lawyers, or uniformed men in the future, may your choices be guided well.

(Ramon Rafael Bonilla is the Sports Editor of Manila Bulletin)