17/04/2025
𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗲𝘆: 𝗔𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗸 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆
A pen refuses to write a single dot without ink— that serves as a fuel to write and leave a mark of her endless steps. The blank space on the paper of her unwritten page of challenges and the edge of her triumph are the silent witnesses of her unpublished journey, not just as an ink mark on the pile of school papers but as a wondrous scribe of her journey in the field that wrote a story itself of her passion.
A maker of ink in her journey, Valerie Joy T. Dalit is a student writer, a leader, and an Editor-in-Chief of The Spark Publication—English at Monkayo National High School. She was a simple girl who stood up in her younger years with pen and paper along her ride in writing. In her grade school, entering into the world of journalism was not her passion; however, there was a pen pal, Donald Poliñio Babiano, who noticed and fueled her passion for writing—it was the beginning of her astonishing journey in journalism. Back when she was in fifth and sixth grade, she was once a copyreader and headline writer who stood up in the podium not only as a DSPC qualifier but also as the most prestigious— RSPC. On the other side of the paper, even though she did not reach the peak of its finest, she was grateful and fulfilled knowing that there are so many podiums that she will stand on, bringing her lasting ink.
In the dull writing of the world, COVID-19 hit, and when the face-to-face classes were back, when she was in tenth grade in junior high school, she returned not as a CRHW writer anymore but as a feature writer, the most artistic and creative style in writing, but it was not a hindrance for her because she was a DSPC qualifier at that time. However, shifting into another path was not her forte. In her senior high school, it became her greatest comeback. She returned as a copyreader and headline writer with her coach Annamarie Zata, and she was an Editor-in-Chief of The Spark Publication —English. In the Division Schools Press Conference, she was in first place on CRHW, and she was grateful knowing that no matter how many years she left in this field, she was still good at it. However, she failed to get to the National School's Press Conference.In her last paper, she was second place in CRHW in DSPC, a battle of brains in RSPC, and her last bullet to get to the NSPC; however, she did not make it, but she chose to be resilient and ignite every soul to continue the ink she leaves. "I may not have stood at the grandest stage, but I leave knowing my passion has lit a path for others to follow," she said. Valerie, as a 3-year Editor-in-Chief of The Spark Publication, led with a heart, passion, and excellence that made a friendship and a bond that etched forever in her heart. With these inks, she leaves a hundred dozen pen fighters that will fuel themselves to have the courage and passion in journalism.
She was an ink that fueled the penholders to step back in every setback, an ink that leaves a mark to follow and continue where she started. An ink that forever etched into the hearts of young journalists she molded and an ink in every article that will forever be remembered. Her passion finally published her own story and led her on a journey in journalism filled with joy, experiences, and lessons she will forever carry. Articles may be forgotten; however, every single word in the article will be remembered for how the author meant it and touched your inner soul. Undeniably, she was an ink that will forever leave a path for others to write their own story.
Love,
The Spark
