It's been four full years– four years since my little freshmen self read an Odyssey article shared on Facebook and wondered how to be able to do the same thing. Fascinated with the idea of being able to write about whatever came to mind, I immediately pursued finding out how to do the exact same thing.
Four years later, I could not be happier I decided to join Odyssey's team. Anytime anything was on my mind, I was able to take my fingers to the keyboard in expressing my opinion unhindered. For someone with as big of a mouth as me, this was monumental. I now had a place to express what I was feeling when I was feeling it– and my voice mattered because people actually read it. From politics to problems with roommates, daylong apparel and most importantly, ex-boyfriends– I was held to a professional journalistic standard while being able to reach the average millennial.
As the cliche saying goes, all good things come to an end, as does my Odyssey career. Four collegiate years of writing about our daily struggles got me to the place I am now– but a senior, focusing on the future is pivotal. I would not be able to bow out without thanking the platform itself and encouraging anyone and everyone with a journalism passion to consider Odyssey.
There's a terribly misinformed notion following Odyssey that we're not credible, or can only cater to the "sorority girl" mindset. I urge you to challenge that mentality and bring a new perspective to the community. My Penn State Odyssey community is the most diverse group of people, combined with men and women and every age from freshmen to seniors. Odyssey has given each and every one of us a jumpstart to our journalism career, and a way to be seen by millions.
That's the exact voice Odyssey needs–yours.
And don't get me wrong, you are going to see the haters. For every article you write, there is going to be 15 mean comments following the 15 nice ones. Your ex is going to share your article bashing him in a GroupMe making fun of you– but thank him because it just got you 45 more pageviews. People are going to whisper that you were "the girl who wrote that article" when you walk into the bar– but employers are also going to read your pieces are be amazed. Amazed that your article about feminism got enough shares to be spoken about on political websites in your state. Amazed that your article about the president of your university, got spoken about in the class he teaches.
It's the small stepping stones that get the most successful people to where they are and I adamantly believe Odyssey is a string of those stepping stones together.
Thank you, Odyssey.
