Dear Odyssey,

Well, it’s been a good, long run. But, as with all good things, this too must come to an end. You have been a constant in my life over the past two and a half years. A frustration and annoyance at times, sure, but overall a wonderful experience that has helped shape me into who I am today.

When I first joined in January of my freshman year of college, I was utterly lost and confused. I was still a declared business major. I figured this would be a great way to “get involved” and “build my resume.” Those things happened, but you also helped me find my voice and choose my major, and I’m thrilled to be graduating next spring with an English degree.

Serving as Montana’s Editor in Chief for the past year has helped me grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I have learned how to manage people, how to better compromise, how to better communicate and navigate relationships. Plus there’s the added bonus of having the experience of being the EIC for a nationally recognized publication, but that’s really just a bonus.

During my time with you, I have written over 100 articles on all sorts of topics. My first ever article was about choosing the perfect college. From there, I wrote about things like sportsmanship, staying positive in an all too often negative world, what home means to me, and how marching band gave me a place to belong.

I jumped on the open letter train and penned a note to graduating seniors and I’ve talked about my struggles with my weight. My most popular article ever was this one, about growing up in a Class C town. It’s truly my claim to fame - people I don’t know sometimes stop me just to say they’ve read it. I’ve written quite a bit about my experiences and frustrations with UM, including a letter to President Seth Bodnar regarding his strategy for distinction.

Overall, I’m pretty proud of all the work I’ve shared here.

Thank you for giving me the space to do that.

Odyssey, I am truly grateful to you.

You have introduced me to some amazing people and have helped me cope with loss. You have shown me new perspectives and helped me form new opinions or rebuke what I thought were bad ones. You have been an outlet to help me through frustration and anxiety. You showed me my true passions.

I sit here writing this today, a strong, confident, excited college senior, nothing like the scared and confused freshman who applied sitting in the dark of her dorm room. I have you to thank at least partly for that transformation.

As I move forward to this next chapter in my life, I will remain grateful for the experience I have had here and I will hope you can help another lost and timid person, like I was several years ago, find their voice and find their way. Thank you, Odyssey, and farewell.

Love,

Dusty