The Interview
"""Hi Ms. Ferrer , Right?
""Yes,Ma'am,"" I said
""Your credentials are amazing. Mathematics.. Seriously? Whoa.. Wait.. What happened?.. Oh ,I see.,"" she said with pauses as she skimmed over the papers I submitted.I knew she was being sarcastic.
My OTR looked filthy because of the 3.0 i earned from one of our Soc Sci . I remembered how I debated with a professor who seemed ashamed. I knew it was not right to argue with people like her but I did what I thought was right .
""Mathematics is galaxies away from writing.You have no professional background in journalism.What made you think you can?"" She said as if surprised.
""I believe it's not a hindrance to write . Writing is Mathematics. It demands a combination of the right way of thinking and the right thing to do.Writing is as free as the numbers yet still abides by the algorithms of patience and dedication,"" I said with confidence because I knew from the start that such question will be asked.
""And you want to be one of our editors ?"" she snapped.
""If given a chance Ma'am. I believe that my attendance to several national and international competitions on campus journalism during my college years speaks for what i can.""
""Well.Let me get to the point. Why should we hire you?""she grinned.
And so the interview went on. I kept on convincing myself that the interview was apparently doing good. I spent split seconds thinking of the best response to her question.
""You impressed me. Suppose you were hired and became our new editor-in-chief.How will you use your writing skills to convince your reader to believe something that is untruthful?"" she read from the paper she was holding.
I knew they saw me and my shock expression.
""Ma'am , I'm afraid I will not do such thing. As a campus writer before, we were taught to pursue the truth and nothing but the truth. We are writers Ma'am . We are public servants. I mean, we serve the truth to Filipino mass if the world does not seem to do so. Writing about things that deviate from the truth and telling them to believe us is like is like making a poison and convincing the innocent to drink it to the last drop. With all due respect , I believe that the task is absurd!"" I almost screamed.
I said those words before I remembered I was on an interview. I didn't know I was already crumpling the paper on the table with my teeth gritting. We were all surprised .
"" You know what , Ms. Ferrer? I like your way of thinking. I like your dress. I like your shiny black shoes. The red dress of yours suits your personality. Fierce . Wild . Unafraid to bite . Unfortunately, We don't need you.Thank you for your time.Thank you for sharing who you are .Goodmorning!"" She concluded.
""But Ma'am . I..""
She snapped and silence me . Grinning while nodding, she pointed the door where I entered.
Time stopped .The next thing I knew , I was trying to wipe my tears so as not to fall to the new resume I was about to sign. Somehow , I found myself smiling .I knew I said the right words."
Not You
2012
Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS)
FEU Manila
