This Sunday marks my final article here at Odyssey. While I’ve loved writing for such a flexible organization, it’s time for me to move on and focus more on school. During my time here, I’ve learned a great many things, both as an editor and a writer, and I figure that my final article would be the best place to share them.
1. Odyssey’s model works.
One of the things that drew me to Odyssey in the first place was its philosophy of how the writing should be done. Other online publications follow a “top-down” model, meaning that the editors see what’s trending and assign topics for their writers to cover. At Odyssey, that responsibility is left to the writer, and it works! Writers get to write about what they are passionate about, and that passion translates into a higher number of quality reads.
2. It’s harder than it looks.
Being able to write about whatever you want might sound like an easy task, but it’s actually quite difficult. Deciding what to write, what will really interest your readers, is a real challenge.
3. Students can have civil political discussion!
This election season has been off to a brutal start. Facebook and Twitter have exploded with biased articles and poorly constructed sentences alike, with people taking a variety of stances and clinging to them violently. In an era where candidates of the same party can’t get through a debate without screaming at each other and calling each other names, it’s refreshing to see a couple of Odyssey writers who were able to civilly discuss their political views through well written articles.
4. GIFs can describe any situation.
Ah GIFs, where would we be without you? How else could we describe finals week using only Leonardo DiCaprio, fat cats, or corgis?
5. Odyssey is a place for everyone.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a diversity of backgrounds, stories and people in one place like I have at Odyssey. Some of the stuff our writers create is truly amazing, but more amazing are the people behind those stories. It’s been a privilege working with all of you and I will never forget the experience of doing so.
Keep #Hustlin' everyone,
Harrison
