Recently, a blog post was brought to my attention that criticized writers of the Odyssey, and also criticized the website as a whole. Basically, long story short, the writer was “making fun” of the types of articles Odyssey Writers create, and furthermore, the writer continued by saying our community is not at all diverse. While my fellow writers and I were unhappy with what was written, I couldn’t help but take a step back and think; could any of this be true? I know that many writers, myself included, have created pieces that are what society considers “cliché.” But this got me thinking… so what? Why does that matter?

What drew me to the Odyssey in the first place was it’s availability to all, regardless of writing background, level, etc. It gives everyone a voice, and an outlet to create pieces that otherwise would remain unread. You could be studying Biology, History, or Journalism and still be able to use this platform to communicate; and that is incredible.

If you can ask anyone who writes, they will tell you how therapeutic it is. It is a way to channel your emotions and ideas that would otherwise be floating around in your head. It's a way to create them into something productive and enjoyable that might even have an impact on other people. I began to write during my Senior year of high school and ever since it has gotten me through some of the toughest and most confusing times in my life. Someone might attribute this to the fact that I am studying Journalism at Boston University, so “of course she loves to write.” But writing shouldn’t be restricted to those who pursue writing-related majors. It can benefit everyone, regardless of talent.

Again, this is what impressed me so much when I came to Odyssey. Even though I study writing, I liked how I would be able to share a platform with thousands of others, regardless of their studies. If that isn’t diverse, I don’t know what is.