I have always loved to write — short stories, poems, I even tried my hand at a news article one time. If there is one thing I love more then my family, it is putting pencil to paper. Nowadays, it's a keyboard you'll catch me typing away on, but I still love a good, old-fashioned notebook and pencil.
I write fewer stories these days and focus more on content other people can relate to. Some of my most recent pieces consist of cats, music, grief, and even family. Despite the world of ideas out there the platform you write for matters as well. I am fortunate enough to write for Odyssey.
Odyssey found me at a time when I really needed something.
My dad had just passed away, and I found myself in a deep hole. Writing for Odyssey has allowed me to express every little thing I am feeling no matter how small or big. I have been able to connect with other writers from Ohio University who share the same passion as I do. We all may have different experiences but we all know how to let those emotions out.
The best thing that has ever happened to me has happened because of Odyssey. I had been a creator for the Ohio University community for a couple of months when the position of Editor in Chief opened up. I applied, I don't know why I did, but I have not regretted it yet. I was appointed the job, and man it is a lot more then I thought it would be. I am in charge of our entire team, whether that be Athens campus or all five branches. If they write for our team their content comes to me. I have learned so much!
This has been such a blessing for my leadership skills, my editorial skills, my motivational skills, and even my communication skills.
I'm not just part of Ohio's team though. When I took the position as EIC I was also appointed to a leadership team, and my world has not been the same since.
On our leadership team, we have two bosses from headquarters, and these ladies are fantastic. They guide me, teach me, and put me in line whenever needed. I could not get through this position without their constant encouragement, emails, and video conferences to make sure I am doing okay. They are not the only people on our team though, we are a team for a reason. Our teams consist of 23 communities, all of which have an EIC (like me) and a President. The President is in charge of finding new creators and making sure we all are doing what we're supposed to.
The leadership team is single handily the best part about being an EIC with Odyssey. We all encourage each other, brainstorm with one another, maybe even complain a little.
But one thing I have learned the most is, I am not alone.
Someone out there in this big ol' world knows exactly how I am feeling because they feel it too. I could not have asked for a better team.
They found me when I didn't know who I was anymore.
They showed me that there is so much more to this thing called life than wasting away. We all still have our days, and every EIC becomes agitated, but our team, our FAMILY, always reminds us who we are, and why we do this. So thank you, for reminding me of who I am, and what I love to do.
Lil&Berk's Squad, I love you.
