Across the nation, over 10,000 millennials share one thing in common. No, not just their age and not just the disdain they receive from older generations, but something more unique. That thing is Odyssey. Each week, 1,000+ communities are producing original and unique content published by the startup tech company led by CEO Evan Burns, a team of over 70 Managing Editors, outsourced copy editors, and the community leading Editor-in-Chiefs. Odyssey is growing rapidly, and recently raised over $25 million, which will ideally help to monetize the company and circulate throughout their writing community.

While all of Odyssey's large scale accomplishments are more than impressive, how is the group of more than 10,000 writers affected by Odyssey in their day-to-day life? Well, lets take a look:

For myself, Odyssey has created so many opportunities in my life I may never have taken. After I began writing and realized my words were worthwhile, I switched my major to Journalism and found a whole host of other talents I harbored that I never knew. Odyssey offered a reputable outlet for my voice to be heard amongst the din of many amateur bloggers that clog social media. My words have reached thousands of people, and my honest and raw pieces are always met with support, encouragement and affirmations. Writing and managing a staff of over 18 people has given me priceless leadership skills, responsibilities and valuable life lessons. And I am surely not the only millennial who has felt the positive repercussions of writing for Odyssey.

"Although I haven't been involved with Odyssey for very long, I've already learned so much about how to conduct myself as a professional," said Jennifer Walker, the Editor-In-Chief at Odyssey's Southwestern Illinois University branch. "Odyssey seals that gap between college and the workforce. You have to manage other writers, meet deadlines, be on time and ready to go for video calls, quick to answer e-mails, etc. You have to be on time and responsible for your work for others around to be able to do their job, and this is the first time in my life I've had that kind of responsibility. Odyssey gives us real world experiences that we will carry directly into our professional careers"

Thousands of millennials are gaining valuable professional experience while doing what they love, and regardless of your position on a staff, you're gathering contacts, promoting yourself as a professional and establishing your own personal brand.

One of Lindenwood University's seasoned writers, Katie Reigelsberger, noted that "Being on the lookout for new things to write about is pushing me to do more research and to try new things. I really appreciate that Odyssey has given me that motivation to learn more about the world and to venture outside my comfort zone."

Odyssey is even opening up new job opportunities for staff members. Devaughn Mathus of Lindenwood University-Belleville relayed that, "[He] got a job in sports writing because of Odyssey."

But besides just helping the writers discover new fronts within themselves, Odyssey is making waves in social communities everywhere. Because of the status of the publication and the option to create widely diverse content, obviously the typical "haters" will arise, but alas their arguments are based solely on opinion and lack of understanding of what Odyssey is truly producing. Odyssey is more than just a "glorified school newspaper," and much more than just a rip off of popular blogging site Medium.com

Odyssey is forging a path for the unheard and bringing to light the topics that NEED to be discussed.

Odyssey has created a forum for the most powerful generation in ages to become even more influential, and simply because the content creators are also creating entertaining pieces (note: the dad bod trend started with an Odyssey creator) does not make the publication any less credible.

Odyssey is charting waters unknown and revolutionizing the game for years to come, and it has given me, as well as 10,000 others a voice to express ourselves in the freest way possible. Odyssey is doing things, going places and creating an entirely new digital world, and we won't stop there.