I live a life of irony. 

I sit here and write, or rather type this letter, but I’ve always been apathetic towards writing. My words just don’t flow as eloquently as I would like. 

I understand the technicalities that come with forming a sentence – a comma before a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon to connect two complete sentences. But it’s the figurative aspect, the one that forges a connection with the reader, that I struggle with – maybe that’s why I’ve written mostly news stories these past two years.

At first, it would take me hours to conjure up a lede that I liked. I would start a story one day and write everything but the introduction. I’d then give myself the next three days of leeway in hopes of reaching an epiphany as to how I can capture the audience’s attention.

I take things in a very formulaic manner and sometimes do not know what to do with that extra space to let loose.

This is my third year writing for The Sidekick. And if I’m being frank, I still have not developed a deep love for writing. I find myself exploring other outlets of storytelling, but here I am, once again, hovering over my computer to type up my newest piece.

But I’m fine with this. In fact, I am proud of how I’ve stuck with it. Loving something isn’t a prerequisite for benefiting from the experience; there are always valuable lessons to be learned. 

It used to take me time to piece together my stories, but now I can do so in one sitting. More important to me are the skills that I’ve seen come into fruition. I write with confidence, voicing my thoughts through clarity. 

I find myself stepping out of my comfort zone more often, exploring ways to express my opinions without a rigid structure – an ability that just came with practice. I’ve had my fair share of “aha moments,” finally conjuring up a lede that I am happy with.

A new school year has started for us all, and I offer this piece as motivation for you to make a conscious effort to reflect on that mundane thing you have been doing. For me, it’s writing, even though it’s part of my job. For you, it can be anything  – that activity you’ve forced yourself to do for continuity or even the job that you may be doing just for the money. 

Take this time to appreciate all you have learned and keep at it. 

Follow Sri (@sriachanta_) and @CHSCampus News on X.