Every week, Friday rolls around and I submit the final version of my Odyssey article for that chunk of time. As I was somewhat struggling to develop a topic to discuss in this week's article, an idea popped into my head: why do I write? This question has so many answers. We could spend hours talking about all the good things that come from putting pen to paper or fingers to keys. Because this conversation is not particularly feasible, I would like to share with you why I personally choose to partake in the beauty that is writing with the hopes it may spur that interest in you.
In order for one to know how a story ends, you must first learn how it begins. My current journey with writing began when an Odyssey journalism chapter was being opened at my university. I was approached about joining and blindly said yes without really knowing what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that I would have to produce one article every week about anything under the sun. This blind acceptance of a spot on the Odyssey would turn into something incredibly special, and open my eyes to so much.
At first, apprehension was present in my thoughts. I had just signed myself up to voluntarily write reports every week. In some aspects, this seemed like an extension of school, and one that made me wary. However as I sat down this week to truly consider why I do what I do, it hit me that my perspective on writing was originally skewed. I should not have been going in with the idea that this would be a burden; writing, as I have come to find out, is a blessing to be able to partake in. All those years of schooling had taught me the ins and outs of writing academically, but they failed to make me appreciate it. In fact, it could be argued by some that academic writing turned them away from the idea of putting their words on paper again – including myself. When you enter school, writing seems to quickly transform from a celebration of creativity to yet another set of standards we as students must meet.
Now, it is important to know that I am not saying school harmed our ability to create in any way. Those of us with the opportunity to learn and develop skills in writing should understand how blessed we are to have had that opportunity. However, I do believe that with the growth in academic writing skills, the ability to write freely and creatively should be encouraged as well. Whether that looks like poetry, short stories, children's books or long novels, I do not know. What I am certain about is that if you were to take the chance of putting your thoughts onto paper, you might be surprised at just how fun it truly can be.
Even though my road with Odyssey started with some apprehension, I could not be happier that I was led to this opportunity. I have found that I write because I can, because I have thoughts I want to be heard and because it is a talent I wish to grow stronger and stronger. As this comes to a close, I implore you to give writing a second chance. It could surprise you in so many ways, and it is these surprises that can bring some of life's most beautiful gifts.
