It is literally impossible to open up any social media platform and not see an Odyssey article within a minute of scrolling. The presence of Odyssey’s content is virtually everywhere—read and shared by many networks of friends. The content is engaging, entertaining, and above all else, easily accessible and relatable to many. So why does Odyssey get so much grief? Why am I constantly asked, "So why do you write for Odyssey, anyway?"
There’s no easy way to describe the unique and amazing opportunities Odyssey has given me. At times it has been stressful, but overall, it’s been a rewarding experience. From the get-go, I have believed in the importance of getting as much experience in the field as possible in order to improve. Never did I think that Odyssey would become so important to me—something I enjoyed doing rather than something I had to do. I didn’t really know what to expect, nor did I know exactly what I was getting myself into.
I applied to become a writer almost instantly after arriving on campus. Ready or not, I was thrown into the fire; my first article was due a few short days after I applied. I wondered how on earth I would be able to come up with something new, interesting, and relevant each and every week. My excitement quickly turned to stress at the thought of being unable to comply with the requirements of the position.
As quickly as I became stressed, I became relieved. I realized that I was in fact creative (despite convincing myself on several occasions that I was not), and with a little bit of thinking, I was continuously able to conjure up something new. Although writing was one more thing thing to add to my list of things to do, once something inspired me, the words flowed easily--and before I knew it, I was done.
As I began to share my articles, I noticed how many people really do read Odyssey articles. My friends and family liked my posts, shared, and commented with praise. I then realized that I was a part of something so much bigger than just writing; I am a part of a network of people who share the same passion for writing and sharing their thoughts with their peers. So why is it such a bad thing?
I hear people call articles written and published by Odyssey as not “real” articles, but what constitutes a “real” article? To me, if you’re putting yourself out there and sharing your words and stories with anyone willing to read them, it’s a commendable act and most definitely a real article. Unless you’re the person putting yourself out there, you’re in no position to judge the work of others. Even if it’s written as a list or there’s a punctuation error or a run-on sentence, it’s still someone’s words and story—and that’s something to be proud of. And on that note, I am more than proud to be a part of something so relevant to my peer group.
