Since I was little, I've always had a creative mind. I was making up stories in my head, and acting them out with dolls or just with my imagination.

I started multiple novels with these grandiose plots, and I would get a chapter or two in and then want to start a new one. (So if anyone wants to buy any American Girl and Titanic crossover novels, let me know and I'll give you the creative liberties.)

In fourth grade, we had to write a chapter book, and I remember writing and illustrating it all myself and all these years later, I remember that one project for English.

All through grade school and high school, I would be writing little stories. My friends and I participated in Camp Nanowrimo in August and we would race to try and write 50,000 words in that month for a novel. For one of my college apps, I was asked to grab their attention in 100 words, so I decided to start a horror novel. (Yes, I realize now that may not have been the best course of action, but oh well, it was a blast!) Once college apps were done, I decided to expand off of my application essay, and I wrote the first two or three chapters of that story.

One day I'll go back to it because I know where I want it to go. Today, sadly, is not that day.

When I started college, the first two years were different. Even though I was taking classes where I was reading a lot, I wasn't writing for fun, and I wasn't telling stories even when I was writing. It was all for assignments.

As more and more of my Facebook feed became my friends posting Odyssey articles that they had written or that they liked, I became curious. A. What was this platform? B. Who could join it? and C. Where did it come from?

I remember telling the then president of Odyssey Chicago that I wanted an outlet for my thoughts, and I think that is the basic reason. I wanted to be able to get my ideas and my words out there. So I guess that's the long and short of it.

I write for me mainly, but I also write to try and get better at expressing what's going on in my head. Who knows, maybe one day I'll finish a novel.