All good things have to come to an end and it is with a note of sadness that I announce this will be my last article published with the Odyssey Online. The decision to leave was not an easy one, but at this moment it is the best decision for me. For my final article, I decided to make a list of my favorite articles I have published before I log out of Muse for the last time as both a creator and contributing editor for my community at Oakland University.

1. A Letter To Anxiety From A 10 Year Old Girl- https://www.theodysseyonline.com/letter-to-anxiety-from-10-year-old-girl

This was by far my most shared and liked article, but that isn’t why it was my favorite. This was one of the easiest articles to write, but hardest to publish because it was my story of anxiety. The fact that I was able to look past my fear and anxiety to share this with the world, and receive such a supportive reception gave me the confidence to be vulnerable on such a public platform. Even if only one person read it, as long as it gave them the courage to share their story, I would be satisfied.

2. To A Girl Who Has Never Been In A Relationship, You Still Matter-https://www.theodysseyonline.com/to-the-girl-who-has-never-been-in-relationship-you-still-matter

I published this article on Valentine’s Day, and to me, it made sense to write to the girls who may have never had a date on Valentine’s Day. A relationship does not have to define you and should be a relationship with a common goal. Since I have published that article, that lesson has become clearer to me, teaching me more about myself.

3. I'm Sensitive And I'm Still Dealing With It- https://www.theodysseyonline.com/im-sensitive-and-im-still-dealing-with-it

This article was another honest testimony of my feelings and was actually shared on the Odyssey Facebook page. To have my personal thoughts shared with a wider audience was unforgettable and will be one of my favorite Odyssey memories.

4. Would We Be Happy If Every Body Was The Same- https://www.theodysseyonline.com/would-we-be-happy-if-every-body-was-the-same

There I go sharing more personal thoughts! Body image is a very important issue to me and my dream would have been for this article to change somebody’s life and help them understand their body does not define their self-worth. I came up with this idea sitting at a pool and hearing girls talking about how much they hated their bodies. I wondered if these girls would feel differently if they all looked like the “it girl” they talked about. If you reread any of my articles, please read this one. It is that important to me.

5. 9 Reasons Dog Love Is The Best Love-https://www.theodysseyonline.com/9-reasons-dog-love-best-love

My first article ever, which of course was published about my puppy Mason. What better way to start sharing stories than to introduce the world to this face…

6. 10 Reasons FRIENDS Is The Most Reliable Show On Netflix-https://www.theodysseyonline.com/10-reasons-friends-reliable-show-netflix

This was my first article published on the Odyssey Twitter page, which happened less than 2 months after I started writing for the Odyssey. FRIENDS is so reliable to me I am actually watching it as I write this article.

7. A Note To My Empty Page-https://www.theodysseyonline.com/note-to-my-empty-page

This article came at a time when I was really struggling with confidence in my writing and felt like I had run out of creativity. This article reminded me that inspiration is always around you and sometimes is right on your computer screen.

8. 20 Bible Verses To Remember In Your 20s https://www.theodysseyonline.com/20-bible-verses-to-remember-in-your-20s

I wrote a few articles about my faith in Jesus Christ during my year at the Odyssey and this was the first. I wrote this right before my 20^th birthday and I looked back at it as I added it to this list. It was amazing how the advice I had written almost a year ago was exactly what I needed to hear as I move on to a new chapter in my writing (no pun intended).

9.Thank You Fall For Being The Change We All Need- https://www.theodysseyonline.com/thank-you-fall-for-being-the-change-all-need

My favorite season deserved some love and I loved to be able to write about it. If you don’t like fall (for whatever reason), I would still recommend reading this. It may change your mind.

10.A Winter Morning In Michigan Described By NFL Players- https://www.theodysseyonline.com/winter-morning-in-michigan-described-by-nfl-players

This one just made me laugh because it is so true. To my Midwest readers, you know it’s true as well.

11.12 Times How I Met Your Mother Described College Perfectly-

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/12-times-how-met-your-mother-described-college-perfectly

And I had to show HIMYM a little love. I actually wrote this article a week after I started writing for the Odyssey, but didn’t publish it for a few months because I wanted to make it legend...wait for it..dary.

While there is something about all my articles that I liked, these 11 are what I want to be remembered for. I started as a girl who didn’t feel brave enough to write about anything more than her dog and ended with a tribute to my brother and my sister-in-law on their wedding day. The Odyssey Online was my online diary for a year and I will forever be thankful for the opportunity I had to share my stories. Thank you for being my audience.

Love

Lily