From pen to purpose

When we hear the term “campus journalist,” we often picture a student who is constantly on the move—present at every school event, notepad in hand, and always writing. As a campus journalist myself, I can attest that all of this is true. The organized chaos of covering a school event while racing against time to craft an article is familiar to all campus journalists. But along the way, I realized that journalism didn’t just sharpen my writing skills—it quietly honed my leadership skills.

I first joined our school’s student publication when I was in 10th grade. My only purpose at the time was to participate in the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC), with the hope of winning. I didn’t have the inspiration that drives other students who write to inform, inspire, or be changemakers. I simply wrote because I wanted to join the competition. Our Filipino journalism advisor assigned me as an editorial writer and, since I was the only senior student, also appointed me editor-in-chief. One might expect that this was the turning point—but it wasn’t, at least not yet. I soon won at the DSPC and advanced to the regional level, but my leadership potential remained untapped. After the competition, I tried stepping into a leadership role, but the school year was about to end, and most of our writers were disappointed with the results and ready to move on.

In the blink of an eye, I was in 11th grade. I said goodbye to my journalism advisor as I decided to join our school’s English publication. My reason for switching was simple: I genuinely wanted to write in English, and the idea of winning in both languages was captivating. I was appointed associate editor and began writing columns, keeping myself busy with improving my writing. But the real turning point came when my English journalism advisor called me out. He told me I was a good writer, but I also needed to be a collaborator, a team player, and a leader. That’s when I realized that, beyond writing, I was in a role that required real leadership. He later informed me I would be the next editor-in-chief and that I needed to prepare. I decided to make the most of the opportunity.

A leader can’t do everything alone. That’s why they must surround themselves with like-minded people. I reached out to classmates and encouraged them to join the publication as writers, editors, and layout artists. But what’s the point of having people around if you can’t effectively communicate your ideas to them?

This is where the change began—and where my leadership was finally tapped. I began learning how to communicate better with my team. Because we were planning ahead, my skills in planning and delegation also grew. I remember going room to room, encouraging students to join the publication. Speaking to them was easy, but getting them to actually join required more than just words—it required understanding what drives them, where they could thrive, and how they could belong. I realized I had to take a genuine interest in each person to understand what would motivate them to write and improve.

That’s when my leadership truly transformed. I gained skills like effective communication, people management, and teamwork. More importantly, I learned to listen—to truly care, to align my vision with theirs, and to see their success as my own. Writing taught me to observe. Leading taught me to listen. Campus journalism taught me to do both. And in doing so, it shaped not just my skills—but my character.

And if you’re wondering, yes, I still won in English. But more importantly, I became a better leader and a better human being.

Josiah Bacani is a Grade 12 student and campus journalist at M.B. Asistio Sr. High School Unit I. He’s the editor-in-chief and opinion writer of Timeline, the school’s official English newspaper. He’s a writer and is also a champion in both debate and oratorical competitions. Driven by a deep pursuit of knowledge, he aspires to become an educator who empowers others through words and wisdom.

Voices is Manila Bulletin Lifestyle’s dedicated space for young writers and future journalists. If you have an article you want to publish, send your submissions to [email protected] with the subject line—Voices: (Article Title)—or send us a DM @manilabulletinlifestyle on Instagram. We can’t wait to read your stories!