Being a content creator for Odyssey has been a wonderful opportunity for me thus far. I never thought I would enjoy writing in general as much as I do now. Although Odyssey is a responsibility, it has been a fantastic outlet for me. It has helped me cope with everyday stresses to some of my depressive behavior. It has helped in many areas of my life, and I am thankful to have this opportunity.
Growing up, I was always told I had a knack for words and writing even though I hated to speak. From a young age, I bothered my mother to teach me letters and to learn many words. I even vaguely remember attempting to read a dictionary at one time. While my academic focus has transitioned to science and math courses, I still believe I am able to write coherently and effectively. I tend to talk too much; it's almost as if it's a coping mechanism for me. I want to affect people positively with both my words and my actions. Odyssey has allowed me to indirectly reach out to people over social media.
Writing has also been a past time for me to cope with everyday stresses. Even as a young kid, therapists told me writing down my woes and worries at the end of the day will help my anxiety. Although it is hard to keep a journal with a busy schedule, all of the therapists were right. Putting down how I feel on paper has made a huge difference. Even if I am not particularly writing about anxiety every week here on Odyssey, it has allowed me to open up my mind and clear some of my thoughts by typing them out.
To continue with the mental health trend of this article, Odyssey has also helped my depression a lot. Part of it relates to the previous paragraph about writing out my worries and problems, but it goes a little deeper than that for me sometimes. I often become very apathetic whenever I am feeling down, exhausted, or stressed out. Having responsibility forces me to get up and get stuff done. Odyssey has been a positive experience for me because I am expected to meet a weekly deadline. It is routine for me. Even if the concept may seem a bit abstract, in the end, this opportunity has helped me in multiple aspects of my life. I feel that it is a privilege to write here and get my thoughts and ideas out into the world, no matter how many people they reach.
