When I started college I felt out of place. I never knew who I was or what I wanted to be, I was just going there to earn credits and graduate. I did not find my passion or calling until I signed up for a creative writing course my sophomore year. That was where I learned I actually could do something right.
When people say teachers can saves lives, they really mean it. My professor truly opened my eyes and made me realize I had nothing to be insecure about. I just needed to stop overthinking everything and just write. Write what was in my heart, my gut, my mind. Write because, according to my professor, I had a writer's voice. Growing up I was always put in the lower level English classes because my middle school had no hope for me to improve. No one did, not even myself. But as soon as college started I was given praise for my writing style and soon realized I was better then I thought.
I would say creative writing is my forte, fiction to be specific. I realized that as soon as I entered this class. My stories were always dark and depressing, however they always seemed to touch my classmates' hearts when my stories were read out loud. My professor to this day encourages me to enter short story contests so my work can be seen on a national level.
One afternoon I was sitting in the cold library browsing the web and I came across an email in my inbox titled Odyssey. "Odyssey? What's that?" So I clicked on the email and soon everything changed. "Join Odyssey!" it said. So, me being a curious person, I applied and soon was asked to take part in an interview! After the prior editor in chief interviewed me she told me, "Your writing sample showed me you have a writers voice." Just like my professor told me. Thus began my Odyssey journey.
About three months into my Odyssey experience I received another email about becoming a community ambassador for Odyssey. I applied and for the first time in my life had to go through a group interview! It was scary, yes, but I did get the position and helped build communities for Odyssey recruiting new content creators and just spreading who we are and what we do!
Then I was given the amazing opportunity to be the EIC for Kean's Odyssey! I am able to help others show themselves through their writing, find new minds and guide them and their writing!
Everything Odyssey has done for me saved my life. I no longer think of myself as an ordinary person. Even small listicles and articles help improve my writing style which in the long run is helping my future. So thank you, Odyssey. Thank you for opening my eyes and showing me that even I can do something right.
