Hi,

Try and think back to the moment you first knew you wanted to be a writer. For me, it was when I was 4 years old. My mom used to read me and my sister picture books before bed so that when we’d dream, our minds would still be racing with wonder.

I remember one book in particular called "The Quiltmaker's Gift" by Jeff Brumbeau for it’s mesmerizing illustrations—the richness of color and intricate details. The story is about an old woman who spends her days sewing beautiful quilts for the poor. Only after a rich and greedy king gives away all of his treasured belonging, does the quiltmaker give him his own quilt. For each item he donates to a person in need, she sews another stitch. The story's about finding the selfless satisfaction in gift giving and relates that a person can gain self-worth by making others happy. My mom told me that I used to look at the pictures and narrate the book on my own since I couldn’t read the words on the page. Every time I’d “read” it to her, I’d come up with a different version than the last. It’s how I knew I wanted to tell stories.

Whenever I’m doubting myself and the career path I’ve so readily set my mind and heart on, I think about all of the small yet significant experiences and accomplishments that have contributed to my growth as a writer. And like fallen bread crumbs, they lead me back to this one memory. And I remember why exactly I've kept going for this long.

Being a writer is hard. When you don’t have the time to write, you feel trapped in a stupor of frustration and self-pity. Even when you do have the time, you can be caught in the same dark storm. Then there's the guilt. It can motivate you to push onward, to improve and to explore every last corner of your wonderfully curious mind. But at its worst, this guilt can leave you questioning your entire future. And that takes a lot out of you. And when people around you—professors; family members; judgmental, entitled strangers—doubt your passions, tell you that the life of a writer is no life at all if you want to be successful, it makes matters even worse.

It's during these moments of doubt when I want you to remember why you love to write. Nothing compares to that sweet intoxication of losing yourself in your words as your fingers tap away in a frenzy on your key board, or when a cramp seizes your knuckles from gripping your pen so intently.

I know some of you aren’t writing majors or minors. For some, that field of study isn’t offered at your school so you’ve taken the “close” alternative that is English. Some of you have chosen a completely different path like Business or Sports Management because you want to have a main source of income that's, well, reliable. Maybe you’ve always enjoyed writing as a hobby, but you're being more realistic with your options. Maybe you want to focus on a field you can draw content from, basing the characters of a novel you've been working on, on your co-workers or clients. Sometimes you need to balance out your passions with more concrete, analytical thinking (because let's face it, being creative all the time is pretty damn exhausting). So, you need to know what's best for you because no matter what, writing will always be there. Your creativity just doesn't disappear, and that's something you should feel comfort in knowing.

For those writing majors or minors who want to make writing the main focus of their careers, I say go for it. Why not, right? Finding a way to do what you love sounds pretty great to me. As you explore your options, it's important that you keep an open mind. I never thought I’d be interested in the magazine industry let alone any form of nonfiction until I came to college, and pursuing a career in this field has been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Gain as much knowledge as you can. One of my favorite professors told me that EVERYONE needs writers. There are so many careers out there for us, no matter what people may say. One website that puts my mind at ease is ed2010, a site that's updated daily with job postings from full-time positions to unpaid internships. Magazines, both print and online, are always looking for driven, young minds. So, embrace experiences because they're out there for you. In the meantime, join on-campus publications and don't be afraid to send out your work.

Have a voice, and let that voice influence others. Or, if you'd rather keep your writing private, use it as an outlet for inspiring yourself—whatever works for you. But just do one thing for me…keep writing. If it makes you feel alive, or is the one thing that's keeping you intact, then why would you ever let that go? Remember that you don’t necessarily need to write for compensation because depending on the writer, a career in the field might not be all that appealing. But, by all means, go for it. Be bold and make your mark on the world because it is in constant need for more of us writers. No matter what, writing will always be a safe space for your thoughts to mingle together and meld into something truly magical.

So please, for me, keep writing no matter what anyone says. Write snippets of dreams you’ve had, write lengthy anecdotes, write whatever you feel like writing, really. Because it’s that creative freedom that keeps our minds young and our veins filled with courage, our flesh freckled with inspiration. Simply be a writer—it's good for you.

-Sam (a.k.a. someone who understands)