About one year ago I began writing for Odyssey, but my journey as a writer began long before that. I remember being in elementary school and having to come up with stories to write in class. I would usually write stories about my pets and my family, and with each completed story came a sense of pride. As a matter of fact, I still have most of the stories that I wrote in elementary school and it is quite comical to read them now. As I got older, my love for writing never faded. Instead, it grew into an undeniable passion. Today, I recognize writing as one of the most important things in my life, and there are multiple reasons for this.

To start, writing is my creative outlet. I'm not a skilled musician. I cannot draw or paint, and if you ask me to sing for you, I will simply laugh at the request. This is all OK with me, though, because writing is my comfort zone. When I write, I can confidently express the my thoughts and emotions. I get to use the tools of our language to share my opinions and analyze the arguments of others. There really is no limit to what you can do as a writer, and I could not ask for a better way to express myself.

There is also something incredibly empowering about being a writer. The power you have to influence people when you write is something that should not be taken for granted. This power that writers have is not one that allows us to control what others think or believe, but it is a power which allows us to help our readers feel something. It is a power that allows us to show people things that they may have never considered before. It is a power that helps those in our audience by providing them with the tools they need to decide where they stand, and that kind of power truly is an incredible thing.

On top of all of this, being a writer pushes me to be an informed and active member of society. If you want to be respected as a writer, then it is important to know what you are talking about. When I enter writing contests or when I am searching for a topic to write my Odyssey articles about it is important to understand what is going on in the world around me. I need to understand the context of the topic about which I am writing. Without such understanding, any contribution that I make through my craft would be futile. I believe it is a wonderful thing to embrace this necessity because as a citizen of this country and of this world as a whole, I believe it is my responsibility to be informed and up-to-date on what is going on around me.

I would say that one of the most important things that being a writer does for me is that it connects me with people. Through Odyssey and through other outlets, my writing has sparked many conversations with people that I might not have been able to engage with otherwise. It really is a wonderful feeling to be able to have deep conversations with people and even to argue with them about different topics. With so many issues today it is imperative that we keep the conversation going; a continued conversation makes it possible for necessary progress to be made. This is a special kind of power all in itself.

It is true that I currently write for a publication, but having this title is not what makes me a writer. Being a writer is about having a passion for writing. Being a writer is about making the most of your passion and sharing it in a way that works for you. I don't know where my passion for writing will take me in the future, but I do know that I would be lost without this part of my life, and I trust that wherever it does take me, I will certainly enjoy the ride.