Trainee reporter

Linh sat quietly by the window, her eyes attentively watching each raindrop falling on the porch. The big, round, sparkling drops of water fell evenly into the gutter, forming floating bubbles that then burst. The mid-summer shower seemed to wash away all the dust of the earth and sky, cooling the hot, humid air of the scorching summer days. A familiar lyrical song playing from the radio program installed on her phone made Linh's mood even more excited. Linh reached for the certificate of merit placed on the bookshelf, fondling the words "For brave action to save people in a fierce flood" printed prominently on the solemn background. The certificate still smelled of ink, like the story Linh had just experienced last week.

Illustration: PV

Linh still has the same emotions from that award ceremony when everyone gathered around to congratulate and encourage Linh for her brave act of sacrificing herself to save the baby in the floodwaters. The feeling of being respected and recognized for her efforts made Linh feel that her life was truly meaningful.

Linh remembers that on the first day she entered the newsroom as a trainee reporter, everyone looked at her with suspicion. No one believed that a petite girl with radiant white skin, a delicate face, and soft hands like Linh could stick with the harsh journalism profession. Linh's parents and lover also had the same thought. Everyone thought that they would let Linh try her hand at journalism for a few years and then she would proactively change jobs when she saw the difficulties of this profession. Linh knew that, so she just smiled, implicitly affirming her own abilities through specific actions and deeds.

During her four years at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, Linh always achieved the title of “excellent student”. After graduating with a good degree in hand, Linh was accepted to work as an intern at the editorial office of her hometown newspaper. The editor-in-chief, an acquaintance of her mother, intended to assign Linh some administrative office work in the editorial office, but Linh resolutely refused. She earnestly asked to be a reporter intern, even though she knew that this job was not simple but full of challenges, requiring quickness, perseverance and high adaptability because the news needed to be updated continuously and sometimes she could face threats or negative reactions from related people. Seeing Linh determined in her decision, the editor-in-chief finally agreed.

In the early days at the editorial office, Linh did not refuse any assigned tasks. She always took the lead in taking responsibility and was always enthusiastically guided by senior reporters. Whenever there was hot news, Linh would ask to follow her seniors to observe how people worked, collected and processed information. Seeing the way the seniors worked enthusiastically, Linh always felt admiration and pride in her profession and the dedication of journalists. Gradually, everyone got used to a young reporter named Linh who was energetic, active and careful in her work, and no longer called her by the name "bánh bèo" like when she first joined the editorial office.

Early last week, during the weekly meeting at the editorial office, Linh was assigned by the editorial board to follow Mr. Hoang, a veteran reporter of the editorial office, to the flood-prone area to report. The weather was becoming more and more unpredictable as floods appeared in the middle of summer in some areas of the Central region. Hoang hesitated for a moment when he learned that he would be accompanying the trainee reporter, but before he could think of a reason to refuse, Linh smiled with a hint of "begging". So the two brothers and the crew set off to the flood-prone area.

Upon arriving, Linh was stunned by the sight of pouring rain, rising floodwaters, flowing rapidly as if they wanted to swallow everything in their path. The crew members wore raincoats and ran around preparing to film, despite the pouring rain hitting them and their faces. The cameras were ready, the TV signal was connected, everyone was rushing to prepare to broadcast live the disaster situation. At that moment, when her eyes swept across the murky water, Linh suddenly stopped. In the midst of the rushing water, Linh saw a small arm struggling, struggling. It was a baby! The raging flood was carrying the baby further and further away. Linh's heart felt like it was being squeezed by someone.

Without hesitation, Linh rushed away.

- Linh! That's dangerous.

Hoang shouted loudly, as if to drown out the sound of the rain and wind, but at this moment Linh could almost hear nothing but her heart pounding in her chest.

Linh threw herself into the flood. The cold water wrapped around Linh's small body, crisscrossing like invisible hands pulling her away, ready to swallow her into the ferocious whirlpool. Linh tried to stay calm, kicking her legs hard to swim towards the child. Linh's arms stretched out into the water, trying to grab the child's small arm that was struggling in despair. Finally, she succeeded in grabbing the child's hand. The water kept pulling them away, pushing them as if trying to separate them. Linh felt her body freeze but still tried to hold on, fighting against each ferocious whirlpool.

A struggle between life and the fierce water, that moment seemed to last forever, making her exhausted. Finally, she grabbed the child's two hands, hugged him tightly, followed the current to the near shore, then swam with all her might to the shore. At the same time, Hoang and the people around also arrived in time to help pull both of them to shore. At this time, the child's mother also ran over, almost collapsing when she saw her child had just escaped the deadly water. Her face pale, the woman burst into tears, hugged Linh, and repeated choked words of thanks. When Hoang held the child in his mother's arms, Linh was equally moved. Everyone around who witnessed that scene gave Linh deep praise for her courage and decisive, quick actions that saved the child's life in time. Hoang looked at Linh, the trainee reporter, with a look full of admiration.

That day, the on-site news not only talked about the flood, but also told about the example of a young reporter who threw herself into the rushing water to save a child's life. Linh's selfless act left many emotions in the hearts of readers, inspiring them with the courage to save people in times of trouble. After that, Linh's family and lover no longer advised her to give up journalism. They truly believed that Linh came to journalism with all her love, responsibility and enthusiasm.

Linh sat at her desk, her eyes scanning the lines of the article she had just finished. She took a deep breath, calming her mixed emotions. In front of her was a product that not only contained information but also carried the emotions of a true journalist. Outside, the rain began to stop, the sky became clear and bright. Linh was delighted to discover that a rainbow was forming on the eastern horizon after the rain with brilliant colors. She smiled, suddenly remembering what her grandmother used to say, "After the rain, the sky is bright again", finding it true in every situation Linh had experienced.

Out there, work and life are always full of storms and challenges, but Linh knows that she will always be ready to embark on stories that only courage and a passionate heart can write. Because Linh came to journalism not only with the passion and enthusiasm of youth but also with all the love and desire to contribute.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/sang-tac/202506/phong-vien-tap-su-c09163b/