This past week at Odyssey has been one filled with tears, goodbyes, and uncertainties. With multiple Editors at the company being let go, saying goodbye to the people we care about, the people who make us courageous and better writers, was inevitable.

Before being recruited by Sami Allen, I didn't really know what Odyssey was, let alone how incredible its platform was for allowing college students like me to let their voices be heard, but once I received a random DM on Instagram from a girl named Sami about the opportunity to write for Odyssey, my world irrevocably changed for the best. Odyssey and Sami came into my life at a time where I felt lost, and not completely sure if what I was doing with my life was actually something that I passionately wanted to pursue. Sami provided me with an outlet for my technique to grow as a writer, but more importantly she brought me into an amazing group of talented women and men from all around the country, who instantly became my family. We share more in common then just the drive to put pen to paper--or fingers to keyboard in this day and age. We share stories, tips, a shoulder to cry on when things get tough, and countless words of encouragement in all endeavors, whether or not it is related to Odyssey. Even though majority of us have never physically met, we understand and love each other on a level, that unless you are a part of it, you will never understand.

I can't imagine an Odyssey where Sami isn't my fearless managing editor. Sami has shown me that it's okay to speak your mind and that you should never care about what anybody has to say, because as she would say, "haters are gonna hate." Sami became more than a boss to me and the rest of our swiggity-swag family, Sami became a close friend, our biggest cheerleader, and somebody who never stopped, and will never stop believing in us. Most of all, Sami has taken on the role of "mom" of our huge dysfunctional family of strangers, soon turned friends.

So thank you, Sami, for changing my life for the better. If it weren't for you, I would've never decided to take the risk to pursue writing professionally. You've given me the experience of a lifetime, built up my confidence as a writer, and demonstrated to me what it means to not only be a successful leader and editor, but to be a loving supporter and role model for every writer in my community.

Odyssey will never be the same without you, but I know that you will always be a friend I can count on and a fellow writer that I can turn to.

Love,

Chelsea