Here it is, my last open letter on this platform. It's crazy to think that I've written so many of these, and even crazier to think that this will be my last one. But before I get to that, I suppose I should start at the beginning of my time here.

For as long as I can remember, I've longed to be a writer. Writing is my way of sharing parts of myself with the world that I otherwise tend to keep hidden behind lock and key. It's how I open up, how I let others see a new side of me. Up until my freshman year of college, I didn't really have an outlet for my writing. It was merely pouring words onto a document that gathered dust in my files. Unread. Unnoticed.

Then I discovered that my university had an Odyssey team, and I knew as soon as I heard about it that it was where I belonged. I'd never been part of a group of writers before, so having people who understood the craft and were as passionate about it as I was excited me. When the time came for me to write my very first article for the site, I couldn't have been more ecstatic to begin my journey as a writer for The Odyssey.

Whether it was articles or my own prose, I poured my heart into every piece I have published on this site from day one. From inspiration anecdotes to music recommendations to sappy poetry, I've ensured that I only post about what matters to me and what I hope will matter to potential readers. From the start, I've wanted my writing to mean something, so I've written with that intention. I want to affect people with my words. I know it may seem silly to think that a little article could impact someone, but I believe words can change the world. In fact, my dream of becoming a writer stemmed from words' impact on me, so since then I've loved writing as a way to impact readers.

The Odyssey gave me a means for my dream to start becoming a reality. I've explored topics I'm already passionate about, uncovered new ones to write about in the future, made friends through my Odyssey team, and overall improved in my writing over the course of this journey. Now, though, the time has come to bid farewell to the platform I've come to love. I'm not done with writing, of course, not by a long shot. However, I'll have to take my writing elsewhere, which means my time on The Odyssey has come to an end. I wouldn't trade any of it for the world, looking back.

I've told so many stories I hold close to my heart here and bared my soul on more than one occasion. I laid bare both my feelings and my stories I've sought to tell from a young age. The worlds I weave with my words all come from the depths of my heart, so I can only hope that anyone who's read what I have to say enjoyed experiencing them. I hope I impacted people positively in my time here. That's all I've wanted from the beginning: to make someone smile.

Thank you, Odyssey, for allowing me to make use of your platform. I will always remember the time I spent writing here.