Self-confessed late bloomer steps up
WHAT started as a simple challenge to herself to try something out of her comfort zone has led to a whole new world that she has grown to love.
Eileen Shi, a sixth year BA Psychology and Advertising Management major was at a crossroads five months ago when she got home from a stint as captain of the Philippine delegation to the International Cheer Union World Championships in Florida. “Pagkauwi ko from Worlds
sabi ko what am I going to do now with my life? I’m about to graduate and wala pa akong gustong gawin sa buhay ko na sure na ako,” says Eileen, 22, during a brief interview near her school De La Salle University- Taft.
Entering the new school year, she was only two semesters away from completing her bachelor’s degrees with Latin honors, but something told her to take the road less traveled.
“I thought sige, try lang ako as courtside reporter, like try
lang talaga for fun. I’ve always wanted din naman to try out reporting, but I didn’t know how heavy of a job it was,” Shi adds. As it turns out, she had the opportunity to find this out firsthand as she is now part of the newest batch of courtside reporters for the 80th Season of the UAAP.
Though this was relatively uncharted territory for her, the two- time Animo Squad team captain says there’s a certain familiarity with what she’s doing now.
Especially considering the fact that she grew up watching her own cousin Alexis Go, a former UAAP courtside reporter, patrol the sidelines on national TV.
“My cousin was actually a courtside reporter for UE before. Super close kami and she was one of the people who really pushed me to pursue the whole process ( of being a reporter).” “She was the one pa nga na
nakipag- meet sakin to teach me how to talk and how you’re supposed to sound and certain ways on how you’re supposed to report. When I would make my reports binabasa niya sakin na parang ‘ this is how you’re supposed to read it,’” she relates.
And the tips certainly bore fruit as she delivers every report with relative ease. It helps that Eileen lives by the maxim that “practice certainly makes perfect— even inside the shower.”
“I practice inside the shower ( laughs) and also in the car, or anywhere in my idle time. I really think of scenarios that would happen, just really talking and talking and talking. I also read a lot of articles kasi one important aspect ( of this job) is research,” Eileen reveals.
She also shares that she considered herself an underdog during the audition, where most of her counterparts already had experience in media- related fields.
“The other people who were trying out already had backgrounds in the field. Some of them were taking up broadcasting and communications so in line na sila para doon. Siguro they just saw potential in me because of the way I approached the auditions.”
The pep squad part certainly paid dividends as well, as her familiarity with the players, coaches and management helped her cope smoothly with the demands of her new routine.
“It helped a little bit kasi more or less kilala ko na yung players in my team, alam ko na kung ano yung teams na
malakas, alam ko na how to look at the bigger picture,” the two- time National Cheerleading champ says. However, she is also quick to inject that she has much to learn about this new job.
“Yung pinakamahirap was the sports jargon. And siy
empre you don’t want to go into the scene talking like you don’t fit in. So for me, that’s what I had to learn, the sports jargon, like, how to present it in a way that’s in line with what sportswriter do.
Th eldest of four children, Eileen comes from a family which has always led an active lifestyle. Her siblings are into dancing as well and two of them play football.
“My dad used to play basketball and he managed a couple of teams. So I guess that’s why may background
kami sa sports. My mom also leads an active lifestyle.”
A self-confessed late-bloomer, Eileen is surprised she’s now coming out of her shell and doing exemplary at courtside.
“I see myself as a late bloomer talaga, I didn’t have the courage to speak before. I didn’t want to be directly under the spotlight,” the likeable LaSallian said.
“But when I joined the animo squad I developed confidence. That’s one of the things that I’m really thankful to the team for kasi they gave me the confidence to speak and the confidence to be who I am,” she added explaining that she was actually on the verge of quitting the team back in 2014 but when her coach told her the squad needed a leader, she stepped up to become team captain.
“My parents told me that I should know where to put my focus and weigh my options, pero my boss offered the captaincy and tinuloy ko na.”
For now, she turns her attention to her newfound love in broadcasting.
“I guess the biggest question is do I pursue something in media or do I pursue my degree or do I go back to school?
Pero if there’s one thing now, I’m really enjoying in the media industry.”
So much so she’d gladly pursue a career in it.
“If I could spend a whole day just talking and make a living out of that, that’s gonna be really okay. For me it doesn’t even feel like work.”