Writing my first few articles for the Chelmsford Odyssey community over the past two months or so has been an amazing experience so far. I have learned a lot about time management, how to effectively use social media, and it has challenged me to be more open-minded and think critically about the subjects I write about. I have especially loved reading pieces from my bright and creative former classmates and discovering their talent and hearing their voices and opinions that I would not have known existed by merely passing them in the hallways. But, every time I sit down with a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning ready to clean-up and conclude my article before I submit it, I run into the same problem. What ideas once came out seamlessly and naturally on Wednesday and Thursday night I am now second-guessing and tearing apart. As I read and re-read my article, I can no longer hear my voice in it and my original intent of the article but rather the voices of those reading it, and absolutely annihilating it with criticism. For a couple weeks now, I have wanted to write an article regarding some of the criticism that 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has received, but whenever I start writing, all I hear is backlash. If I say one thing will another person come back with a fact or statistic that completely counters this argument? Could this particular viewpoint offend anyone? Is what I am saying only loosely based on fact? Am I cherry-picking my evidence too much? Am I just flat-out wrong? Do I sound painfully pretentious? Narcissistic? Pompous? Snobby? Stupid?

These concerns of mine may seem a little too self-important considering my very small following, but regardless of one’s popularity or following on the internet, we all still hold a tremendous amount of responsibility on the internet. I have vivid memories from as early as the age of twelve and thirteen of innocuously running into pseudoscience-type websites that changed the way I looked at food and accidentally stumbling on websites that recklessly body shamed women and negatively affected the way I perceived my own body. Reading just one Facebook friend’s post about the presidential election can cause me to rethink about which democratic candidate I support all over again. The power of persuasion is especially strong when its comes from peers, people in a similar age group, which is usually the audience I reach on Odyssey.

There is no denying that I am a sensitive person. I have always seen this as a neutral quality, neither good nor bad, but instead a way I experience the world differently. While at times I envy the thick skin and unapologetic nature of some of my friends, I also recognized that these differences contributed to our individual strengths. But, this characteristic becomes a major flaw if my sensitivity prevents me from being able to effectively accept and use criticism effectively. With this being said, maybe it’s okay if someone catches something I wrote in an article that was incorrect or flawed. Maybe it’s okay if there is a side of a complex argument that I didn’t cover because it gives someone the chance to share their side and start a discussion. It’s okay if someone challenges me, or anyone else, for the sake of discussion. Now, this doesn’t give me, or any other online content creator, the right to be completely careless in covering topics because we are “human.” But, receiving criticism and using it as a tool to grow and learn as not only a writer but a person is a vital part of our existence.

Whether we realize it or not, we are all swayed by biases that surround us. So naturally, if someone writes about a subject on the internet that they haven't studied extensively and thoughtfully, their work is most likely fallible to a degree of bias. This makes our responsibility as consumers of media and content creators alike all the more important. So I ask this to any of my Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and anyone else who may read my articles: Challenge me. If I make a poor argument, state an incorrect fact, or if I miss an important side of a discussion, tell me. Together let's keep things interesting and start a discussion.