About a month ago, I got news that I was recommended to be editor in chief for Odyssey at University of Texas at El Paso, and it was one of the greatest days of my life. Since I was a child, I have always enjoyed to write, and I would write endlessly on hundreds and hundreds of notebooks. And so I dreamed of becoming an author. But it wasn't until high school that I realized that I have the potential to do so much more than that. I wanted to write captivating stories about everyday people who don't get their moment in the sun. I wanted to write on issues that are important to society today and make them relevant to the younger generation. I want to write pieces that make people think or have conversations with their family and co-workers. So when I signed on to write for Odyssey in February, I was excited to finally get the opportunity to write for a platform that everyone will get to see. But becoming editor in chief, is something I never imagined happening even in my wildest dreams.
Little did I really know how tedious the job would end up being. Some weeks everything can go perfectly right, and the week after everything will go to s*it. One week you have 12 writers and 12 articles, and the next you have four and four. And that's fine (well, it's really not) because it's how you react to it that'll either make you or break you. You get to improve your leadership skills by laying down the law and being firm, or by trying to empathize with the struggles your writers have, which may or not always be similar to your own. It's important to remember that not everything will go as planned, but you have to keep moving forward -- nothing can set you back.
One of the worst parts so far has been the interviewing process because I am ridiculously overthinking everything. Even when I'm using the GroupMe I feel like I send too many things, or that people will think that I'm too serious if I don't use emojis, or that I'm taking myself too seriously. But when I had to interview people, I assumed that they assume that I don't know what I'm doing (which to be honest I really don't) or that after the interview they're discouraged to join. But then they do join, and they write excellent pieces on music and movies or important social issues, and you remember why you agreed to be editor in chief in the first place. And not to toot my own horn, but I think I've done a pretty good job so far.
What I truly love about being editor in chief is that I get to see what drives other people, what other people's passions are, what gets other people lit. It really broadens your perspective and makes you more well-rounded, more compassionate, and more understanding of other people and their opinions that may not always be on par with yours. My first month as editor in chief hasn't been the easiest, but it's really helped me improve on my social and leadership skills, which I hope will continue to improve over the course of the year.
My time with Odyssey has been a great one. It's been a time of learning and growth, and it's shown me how things will be in my future. If I'm going to be a journalist in the future, I need to face these headlines, I need to have good leadership and social skills, I need to really get along with people, I need to be well-rounded, and Odyssey has given me the opportunities to expand on each of those. I've had the opportunity to share my voice, I've helped others share theirs, and that's all that really matters: for everyone's voices to be heard, for everyone to have their moment in the sun.
