It wasn’t intentional. I just thought having clips and being able to write about my own topic each week would be nice. Odyssey gave me a voice when I felt like I was constantly told what I had to talk about in school. Not that Odyssey is my journal, but it is a platform for me to do what I love to do – encourage others, and hopefully I’ve done that in some way so far.
I am down to the wire in school, just a few weeks away from graduation. Why in the world would I add weekly deadlines to my stress? Like I said, it wasn’t intentional. But it was at a time when I needed some kind of motivation. Halfway through a final semester of college is overwhelming, but it should be exciting. For me, it wasn’t. I had no motivation and couldn’t figure out how to get it.
I learned that when I was productive in doing what I liked to do, I had more motivation to continue being productive in schoolwork. Here’s why joining Odyssey in my busiest season of life so far was the best thing I could’ve done.
1. It got me motivated.
I definitely didn’t need more deadlines, but this deadline was for others and for myself. It was a deadline that I kind of set for myself, about the topic of my choice for that day. And that was motivating. I found that I wanted to be more productive.
2. It’s rewarding.
To be able to use this great mystery of communication to encourage others and to hear their feedback is awesome.
3. It makes me feel like I can make a difference.
So many people are going through so many of the same things as others, yet feel so alone. Technology allows people to create the perfect image they want others to see, so it leaves people feeling really alone in their struggles. Sharing about any sort of commonality and having people respond to it left me with a much higher sense of satisfaction than meeting a deadline for my capstone class. And let's be honest: we all want to make a difference, right?
4. It allowed me to be me.
When I felt like a robot – going to classes, working, food shopping, cleaning (I’m newly married, so those last two were new to me in my last year of school) – Odyssey let me think about the things I wanted to and write about the things I think are important, instead of just auto-piloting throughout my week. When I just felt like a newlywed wife who misses her husband who works so hard for her and goes to school in the evenings, Odyssey let me feel like an individual.
The tool of technology should always be that – a tool. It should never be consuming. But with that tool, we all have the opportunity to be heard and to make a difference.
Please find what you like to do and mix it into your daily routine. Paint, sing, practice an instrument, go for a run, punch things, etc. Whatever you like to do, do it, even when you don’t want to. It can really impact your mood and give you the boost to continue doing the mundane.
Students, if you’re not already, you should write for Odyssey.
