Who exactly has the right to write? Would it be the people who have interesting stories to tell or those who lead adventurous lives? What about those who desire to educate and inform others? There is no real answer to the question of who has the right to have their voice be heard through writing. Writing is a way to express yourself. Writing is a tool that can be used to inform the public, rally the masses, tell stories and allow readers to live a thousand lives and enjoy endless adventures.

Everyone has stories to tell. No one experiences any one thing the same as someone else. Over seven billion people experience the same day in completely different ways. Today, someone may have witnessed the birth of a miracle baby, traveled to an exotic country, or cared for someone who has fallen ill. Everyday amazing things happen, and if we were to limit the right to write to a very specific few we would miss out on some of the most incredible stories ever told.

One thing that I commonly hear is that only privileged white girls write for Odyssey. Often when someone says this it is intended to mean that these writers don't deserve to be listened to or that they have nothing insightful or worth while to say. While I have only been writing for Odyssey for a very short amount of time, I can tell you that that statement is absolutely false. Odyssey has a wide variety of writers from all walks of life. Each article is a unique look at moments that everyone experiences.

I have also noticed that those who are the first to decide who should and shouldn't write are those who are also the first to share articles by the same people that they so harshly judged and criticized. I personally feel incredibly accomplished when people read and share my articles, and I believe that every writer feels this same sense of accomplishment. I began to write for Odyssey because I felt that I had a story to tell. I know that the only person who experiences life the same way I do is me.

While it may be incredibly vain of me to believe that others want to hear my story and see experiences through my eyes, I believe that my fellow writers and I make a difference. Through joining Odyssey I have been able to fulfill my dream of being a published writer. I have learned a lot about myself and others through becoming a part of this incredible network of writers. I feel incredible about becoming a writer, and I refuse to let anyone tell me that I do not have the right to write.