Ever since I started writing for Odyssey, I've had so many people come up to me and comment on my articles.

"I love your articles. How did you get started in that?"

"When did you start writing?"

"What made you want to write?"

The last question is always one that gets me thinking. For a while, I really didn't have a response, other than "I just like to write", which is a pretty lame answer.

I do like to write. Writing is something I do when I'm bored. It's something I do when I can't find the words I want to say, or when I need to get something off my chest. My notebooks are full of ripped pages and scribbles and probably aren't legible for most people.

Most importantly, I write because someday, I could make a difference.

Writing is a very powerful tool. When you write, you can let your voice be heard by a larger audience. Who knows, one day I might write an article that the whole world sees!

If I write about a struggle I went through, I could help another young girl just like me get through the same thing, without even knowing it.

If I write about something that makes me happy, others could read it and feel the same joy that I do.

If I write about something I believe in, or a cause that I feel strongly about, I may be able to get people to join me and help me fight for the same cause.

When you write, people pay attention. They notice. They see other people "liking" or commenting on your article, and that leads to more people seeing what you have to say. Writing, especially through social media, can spread like wildfire.

When you write, you can say something as powerful as you want to, or as quietly as you want to. You are in control of the way your writing sounds, and how you get your message across. You can WRITE IN ALL CAPS or italicize your words so people know which parts to pay the most attention to.

Write about how your day was. Write about why you cried last week. Write about the people you love. Just write, and make sure your voice is heard.

If I can take a small portion out of my day to write about something I believe in, or write about something the world needs to see, then I can make a difference. If I can use words to make my readers feel something, then I'm making a difference.