Frannie Reyes initially saw a career in banking for herself. But life had other plans for the Gen Z reporter and host.
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Have you ever thought that you had your life, at least the first part of it, planned out after graduation? With your degree locked in and future career prospects in sight, it can feel like your future is waving at you. But then life hits, and all of a sudden, you find yourself on a different career path. While it may seem scary, and it’s ok to feel that way, it also could be a sign from the universe that something else, and arguably something better, is waiting for you.
Such is the case for Frannie Reyes. From her days as a UAAP courtside reporter for Ateneo to reporting for the PVL, Frannie is a familiar face to many who watch local sports. But believe it or not, the Gen Z personality didn’t see life in sports media in the cards for her. Life pulled a plot twist on Frannie, but she’s taking it in stride.
FROM THE BANK TO COURTSIDE
With how natural Frannie is in front of a camera, you would think that she is a natural fit for a career in sports media. But that wasn’t the case, as evidenced by the fact that she graduated with a degree in AB Management Economics from Ateneo. “I thought I was going to go into your traditional banking corporate setup,” she admits in an interview with NYLON Manila.
However, an audition to be a UAAP courtside reporter shifted perspectives for the young Atenean. “Because I auditioned to be a courtside reporter and ultimately got to experience that, I guess my idea of what work could be changed, and I decided to pursue something more in sports media.” While a career in finance is still there for Frannie, as she did work in a Fintech startup for a few years, her career path so far has been anything but linear.
“I’m very lucky that I got to start in college and I got to create a network with people that I look up to, people that I can learn from in sports media,” she shares, noting that she’s been able to use her experiences to turn her work in sports media as a viable career option. But more than just being a staple of the courtside action ready to inform audiences of the latest stats and stories, Frannie also credits the work she’s been exposed to behind the camera in helping her solidify what she wants to do with her life.
“The more I’ve worked in sports media, the more I’ve met other people, so maybe in the sports corporate side of things, maybe in the team management side of things, I do have a business background which helps me be a bit more versatile in terms of what I’m going to or what is my next step. But I think it’s also taking the time to be observant, be curious, to talk to different people, and really open up my own eyes to what else I could be doing in this industry.”
So, what has the young yet seasoned journalist learned from her first few years of adulting? Aside from the dread of having to navigate paying taxes, Frannie learned that what you initially wanted for yourself might change down the line, and that’s ok. “I think you can have an idea for what you want or what you picture for yourself, and sometimes three years down the line, even two years or a year down the line, it can be completely different. And I would say that when you’re in adulthood, you have to be able to roll with the punches, but also keep a level head.”
As someone who graduated college in 2020, aka the first batch of pandemic graduates who entered the real world just as everything came to a stop, Frannie has taken the past four years as a sign that change shouldn’t be seen as an obstacle, but to keep your options open because you never know what might happen. “You can never be sure, but as long as you are pretty level-headed and curious about where life might take you, and you’re able to allow life to take you there, but also be grounded in yourself. I think those are the things that are needed.”
CHANGE IS SCARY, BUT NOT YOUR ENEMY
From what she initially saw as a life in corporate to having a front-row seat to some of the hottest volleyball games, Frannie is enjoying her new career path. And while it’s still early days for the young reporter, she so far sees herself staying in the field for a good and long time. “It’s different, it’s fun. And I was talking about it with some people that I work with in sports media, and we all didn’t really know that this could be a career. So we’re riding that wave, and also trying to make it a sustainable career, not just for us, but for people in the future as well.”
On that note, she advises students and fresh grads hoping to make a career in sports media to come in as newbies, but have the will and determination to learn. “Don’t be afraid to be a beginner. Because when you’re a beginner, you’re allowed that curiosity mindset, but you’re also allowed to figure things out as you get better. I don’t think you should ever enter anything thinking you’re the best at it already, because then that means there’s no more space for you to grow or to learn, right?”
As for Gen Z who are about to enter their working era for the first time, take it from Frannie and know that it’s ok to have those questions and anxieties about it. “I would say it’s going to be very scary,” she bluntly states. “Like honestly, it’s going to be very scary, but that’s part of it. It’s part of ending a chapter and entering a new one.”
It comes with the territory, but college is there to help you for a reason, so use what you have to your advantage. “Don’t be afraid to see what is out there. Talk to your peers, your parents, maybe mentors that you have currently, maybe even people in your department, and talk to them and ask them your questions, your fears, and what you could explore. You’d be surprised by the answers that they’d have for you.”
Oh, and as early as now, keep in mind green flags in potential job prospects. For Frannie, that means looking for an employer whose values align with yours. “It could be anything from how you conduct yourself, how you speak to other people, to maybe the values that are integral to the company’s mission.” While everyone has their own criteria of what they want in a job, at the end of the day, it always pays to do your research. As Frannie puts it. “If you know everyone’s online and everyone has a voice, don’t be afraid to ask around and see what people have to say about the company.”
Photos by Ed Simon
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