After reading a few friends' Odyssey articles on Facebook, I instantly fell in love with the site. A "social content platform" which allows the eager voices of millennials to be heard, Odyssey is reshaping the landscape of online journalism through its utilization of social media and inclusion of many communities of content creators. In particular, it was the site’s diverse range of topics which offer ”perspectives of the new generation” that made me apply to be an Odyssey writer. In March, I officially began writing for the site and have been constantly learning new things about life, myself, and my career goals due to this position. Here are just a few of the lessons that Odyssey has taught me over the past three months!
It solidified my love and passion for writing.
When one is considering a career path, firsthand experience within their potential field is crucial to determining if it is the best choice for them. This is especially helpful during college, when individuals often take a class on or explore a field which they thought they would love, only to find that it is far different from what they thought it would be. For me however, being a content creator for the Odyssey assured me of just how much I love to write. I find myself looking forward to writing a new article each week and receiving feedback from readers. I now can definitely see myself working in this field for many years to come.
It helped me determine the type of writer that I want to be.
I put a lot of thought into choosing a new topic to write about each week, making sure that it is always something I'm passionate about. Now, having written articles on many of my personal interests, I am able to reflect and decide which ones I was best at talking about, were the most fulfilling to write about, and connected with my audience in the greatest and most positive way. The articles which stand out to me focused on topics such as personal growth, feminism, and art. Therefore, I know that these are the subjects which I will focus on throughout my writing career.
It taught me the value of originality, honesty, and vulnerability.
Early on in my experience as an Odyssey writer, I was confronted with a choice: write common, generic articles which will almost guarantee a high number of readers, or write unique, original pieces which may or may not always resonate with my audience. I chose the latter, and was pleasantly surprised when my authentic, honest, and vulnerable article about my personal experience as a shy individual received a high number of shares, likes, and comments! The experience taught me that readers connect with authenticity and it pays off in the end to express your own thoughts on a topic.
It reminded me of the power that words hold.
While I am known as being a stickler about word choice, in both writing and speech, publishing articles online has made me become even more aware of the importance of choosing one's words wisely. So much can be conveyed from not only what someone say, but how they say it, and knowing how to present one's ideas through writing is one of the most useful skills a person can have.
It showed me how writing can bring people together.
Last, but certainly not least, writing for the Odyssey showed me just how great of an impact writing can have on people. I often receive messages from readers telling me how one of my articles made them think of something later on in their day, inspired them in some way, or made them feel less alone, as they related to my experiences which I wrote about. These instances are extremely rewarding and, in my opinion, are the best part of being a writer!
