I just recently decided to start writing for Odyssey. It seems a little odd to most of my friends because I’m an architect major and don’t have any formal training in writing. While I may not be in a major related to journalism like a number of my peers here at Odyssey I chose to start writing because it is a way for me to get my thoughts and feelings out and in the open.

My first article for Odyssey was about what it is like to live with anxiety (You can read the article here.) This article gave me the opportunity to open up about something that I had been dealing with my whole life, and just didn’t realize it until December of 2015. Once I saw the article had been published, I couldn’t wait to share it. I got so many positive comments from friends and family saying how great of an article it was and how proud they were of me for opening up about my mental disorder. With all the positive feedback I was getting, I was encouraged to continue writing about things that mattered to me.

I wasn’t ever a strong writer, but with Odyssey I have the freedom to really write what comes to mind. I don’t have to write an article like a school paper. I can write an article from any viewpoint I want and use words that I see fit. While I still have to turn in the article for editing, I can get feedback from my editor on the article and if I need to change something, I can do that very easily. I enjoy the challenge each week of writing something new and giving my opinion on something that may be going on in media or on campus. It keeps my mind active and my creativity flowing.

While my schedule may be busier than ever, and will only keep getting busier, the time I set aside to sit down and write is a time that I use to relax and reflect on the week. I encourage all who read this to start writing, even if you’re not the best at it. The process of just writing about something that happened to you during the week or a fictional story you make up on the spot could help brighten your day or week up just that much more. Writing is a great way to clear your mind and get your creative juices flowing. Pick up that pen and notebook, and get creative.