Odyssey is a wonderful outlet to have as millennials and as college students. With over 14,000 writers and communities all over the country, there's a spot for everyone. We get a lot of backlash from people who write for other websites or journals, and that's understandable, but there are some reasons that I believe every college student should try writing for Odyssey, even if you only do it for a month or two.
1. To Voice Your Opinion
One of the greatest things about college is that you have a completely free forum for thought. No one is going to tell you that your opinion "isn't politically correct" or that you can't say something. There aren't safe spaces, which is an incredible thing because it means that in college you get to learn and grow. Odyssey is the same way. Nobody is going to tell you that what your writing is too controversial or that you shouldn't be allowed to say that. Not every writer on Odyssey agrees with each other, either. We disagree all the time, which is actually a fantastic thing!
2. To Better Your Writing
Writing is a skill that will never die. No matter your major, no matter your profession, being able to articulate your thoughts eloquently will always be a desired skill. We are provided with editors, which is nice to go back through and catch your errors, but you will also learn how to develop your writing skills and write something that people will want to read. Also, because you have to produce one article per week, you will learn how to keep your writing fresh with new ideas, styles, vocabulary words, etc.
3. To Learn To Work In A Professional Environment
Sure, most people have had part-time jobs somewhere by the time they are in college, but it's great experience to have a specific deadline every week. Of course, since this isn't a job, your editors will work with you and it isn't always a rigid deadline, but getting in the habit of having an article due once a week at the same time is a great habit to have and can prepare you for future
4. To Make Friends and Network
Do I know everyone in the Tuscaloosa community in person? No. Do I work directly and indirectly with each one of them and consider many of them my friends? Absolutely. We love to read each other's articles, interact with each other in the GroupMe and if we get the chance to meet each other in person, it's that much more awesome. Beyond that, our Managing Editor and Editor In Chief are often times older than us and are a great jumping off point for networking and beginning our professional careers.
5. It's Fun!
I look forward to writing my article every week and watching my friends post and share their own articles and each others articles. I delight in seeing what my friends have to say, whether it's to entertain or to provoke thought. I work with a number of extremely talented, and dedicated writers who may choose to write for Odyssey for fun, or may choose to write to gain professional experience. Either way, each writer throws themselves into what they do and it's incredible to watch each person flourish through their writing.
