After many introduction attempts on websites, magazines, and blogs, I've learned the best way to introduce yourself is by telling people how you see yourself rather than giving them room to label who they think you are. With that being said... hi! I'm Essence, an aspiring dreamer, lover of culture, scholastic enthusiast and friend. I'm also a planner. Not your average “plan out every meal I'm going to eat this week" planner, more of your “planning my 25th birthday party and I'm not even 20 yet" planner. I tend to look at the future quite a bit and sometimes even catch myself planning out my life before I even allow things to happen. That's where I go wrong. I never plan out when the unexpected will happen, no one does, but it's not always a bad thing.
If you were to ask me two years ago what I would be doing with my life, working for The Odyssey would be far from what I would have said. In fact, if you were to ask me two months ago I probably would've given you this huge list of class courses, summer plans, and future aspirations, but The Odyssey would have never crossed my mind... until it did.
Many people say that when you want something you don't just wake up one day deciding you want it. Well, I am not a part of that “many." Believe it or not, I applied for this job on a whim. Picture this: I'm crawled up in my bed late at night, laptop propped up, surfing the net (if people even use that phrase anymore). As I scroll down Facebook I come across what would be approximately the fifth article I've seen shared by yet another Facebook friend from The Odyssey. After reading the article, I decide to explore the website in depth and come to the decision to apply as a writer. Yep, right then and there I filled out the application. It wasn't anything that I thought about for a week or so and then decided to apply. Nope, no hesitation; I just leapt.
What's strange is that doesn't sound like me at all. Anyone who knows me knows I'm very particular about spontaneity. Last minute study sessions? Sure. Late night Sonic runs with a group of friends? Why not! An employment opportunity that takes a lifelong hobby to a totally different level? Woah. But at that very moment, I didn't second guess. For the first time in a long time I didn't allow the intimidation of “not being good enough" hold me back. I actually laughed when I told my roommate what I'd just done and told her it didn't really matter if I got the job or not, because in that very moment I got something even more; a sense of courage.
So whoever you are, wherever you are, take your leap! You'll never know until you try. Think about it. Some may see this as the cheesy, “pep talk" of an article that it is, but without my leap of faith, they wouldn't have been able to read it.
