The Colgate Odyssquad is an elite task force of passionate writers, comprised of all class years, cliques, clubs, and cohorts. Established in August 2015, our team has worked hard to achieve journalistic integrity and bring unheard voices to the forefront of our small community and share their words across the world wide web. Welcome to the Writer Showcase Series, where we introduce you to our staff the best way we know how - in 500 words.

DM: So Maia, can you give us a little background?

MVB: Whelp, I was born in Starkville, Mississippi and lived there for less than a year. However I still like to blame those very minimal southern roots for why I love an insane amount of sugar in my tea. My family then moved to Richmond, Indiana, a town no one’s heard of in a place no one wants to visit. My dad got a job at Earlham, a college here, and so my brothers and I are all this awkward mix of Indiana and Pennsylvania, because the whole rest of our family is on the east coast.

DM: And you’re heading into your first year at Colgate, right? What are your feelings on that?

MVB: Yup, sadly I’ll be a freshman again. Side note: Something related to our class year has to be a pun (2020 vision or something) or I’m going to be super disappointed. It’s gonna be pretty bittersweet because I’m the only one of my friends moving out of state but there’s a lot of cool things Colgate has to offer. I’m excited to explore some different activities that you don’t really get a chance to in the midwest.

DM: What do you plan on studying at ‘Gate?

MVB: Right now the idea is to major in Neuroscience but god knows how that gonna work out.

DM: What kind of activities do you want to be involved with on campus or in Hamilton?

MVB: Tennis is the only sport I can play and not instantly make a fool of myself so I’ll try to keep that going, club only though, I’m no D1. I’ve also done a lot of theater but tennis took over my high school life so I’d like to try and get back into that, either on the stage or backstage. I also want to look into some Film & Media studies because I’ve always wanted to try my hand at directing.

DM: Definitely look into Masque & Triangle. What do you love about Colgate or what made you choose Colgate?

MVB: The school colors are pretty snazzy, plus the number 13 has always been my lucky number so it must have been fate. Not completely sure yet, I've been there like twice. Free Starbucks, that seems like a plus. I don’t think there’s one reason why I choose it, maybe a bunch of small ones that just kind of grew. There was always some reason why I kept going back to it, I couldn’t explain it but I was interested and wanted to know more. Eventually it just became the only school I could actually imagine myself happily and successfully continuing on at.

DM: I feel you. How long have you been with Odyssey and what do you love about being a writer?

MVB: I joined late June/early July. I like the ability to have a low pressure outlet for thoughts or random things. No harm no foul. You don’t have to worry about being completely objective.

DM: What's something that makes you excited about life in general?

MVB: I have this idea in my head of living this life where I have a job and an apartment and I'm content. I can live a life without the expectations of others and I can do the things I wasn't self-assured enough to do before. It's striving for this life that I do the things I do, and it helps me keep going. Also Netflix and cats.

DM: Netflix is heaven-sent. What's your favorite thing you've written for Odyssey?

MVB: Either my article on the mentally ill in prison or the open letter to high school seniors.

DM: What's your favorite thing you've read on Odyssey?

MVB: Basically any list of things that I can screenshot and text to my friend saying "me though."

DM: Why do you want to see others write for Odyssey?

MVB: I like a lot of funny-in-a-relatable way posts. I’m not a very serious person so satire is always something that I also enjoy reading.

DM: Anything else you think people should know about you? Fun facts? Crazy stories? Deep, dark secrets?

Fun fact: I say fun fact a lot. As well as a lot of other stupid things. Don't believe me, check Twitter.

I'm stupid good at BS-ing things. Like I would give a presentation and they would ask a question I hadn't prepared for and I'd just make something up and man they loved it.
I'm also really bad at talking about myself, in case you couldn't tell.

DM: Aren't we all.

Want to learn more about Maia? Read her articles here and follow her on Twitter.
To apply to become a member of the illustrious Colgate Odyssquad follow this link.