Journal of a young writer

By Shan Seman

Staff Reporter

Almost everyday in my teenage life, I would buy a newspaper, and instead of reading it from the first page, I would always have the tendency to automatically turn it to the back page and read the sports articles first. Maybe its because I’ve been involved in sports my whole life, but little did I know that, one day, things would turn around and people will be reading my articles instead.

I am a native of the island, with a mixture of Chamorro, Carolinian, and Palauan backgrounds. Both my parents, Vicente and Rufina Seman, worked as educators for the youth of the CNMI, and it was their encouragement and discipline that enabled me to be successful in life. As a child, my parents would always push me to succeed both academically and in sports. I now realize that I was lucky to have parents who supported me.

I was always up and excited for sports. I remember my father would always tell me that I couldn’t do two things at once. But my mind and body just kept pushing for more.

When I was in high school, I participated in basketball, volleyball, and track and field all at one time. It was hard, but I still managed to mark up good grades and play well. I was only 16, yet my day was completely booked.

I finally got the final push to go to college. It was really hard for me because I had just qualified in the 5000m event for the Micronesian Games. However, my coach, parents, and teachers all gave me the same advice, and I took it.

With the help of my English teachers, especially Mr. Planas and Mrs. Sisior, I was able to improve my writing skills and prepare for my new challenge. Joan Kani, who really helped me throughout my high school years, kept pushing me to apply to an off-island school. So I did.

I attended Eastern Oregon University for three years. The writing classes that I took really enhanced my writing skills, and with the help of my cousin Marlene Sablan, writing became a regular thing for me.

Of course I made mistakes, but everybody does. Even the best writers in the world need other people’s editing. Sometimes people get angry when someone corrects their mistakes, but I believe that a person can never stop learning.

I returned to Saipan during my summer break last year, and decided to transfer to Northern Marianas College. I was looking for a job, and it must’ve been my lucky day because there was an ad on the paper that stated: Sports writer wanted.

I applied for the job, which required several samples of my writing. A couple of days later, I received a call, and I got the job.

I guess my experience in sports and in school really came through for me.

Sports still run through my veins though. I was part of the Verizon Ol’Aces squad that won the Pepsi 25-under Basketball League last February and next month, the team will participate in the Island Wide basketball League.

A lot of people do not know how a reporter’s workload is like. So far, its been pretty easy, and I believe that anyone can do the job.

(Editor’s Note: Shan Seman, 21, is the youngest editorial staff of the Saipan Tribune. He started writing for the paper’s sports section in March 2002.)