I started writing for Odyssey with one initial intent; that was to improve myself. Since scrawling out my name in Pre-K to cranking out essays for my English course, I have never thought of myself as a strong writer. Coming up with ideas, actually working out what I want to write, and finally bringing it to life on my computer screen has not been an easy process. It has made me realize that this job is not only pushing me to do one thing I’m not good at, writing, but to do many things I have not and maybe will continue not to be good at.
One of these things is actually the act of doing new things. I am a creature of habit. I like what I like, I like what I’m used to, and divergence from my normal is bone chilling. Applying for my position as a content writer had been spur of the moment and impulsive, which may or may not be something I need to curb. I had no experience at working for any publication aside from the monthly school paper in my elementary school, which most certainly does not count. Very used to a business atmosphere, with special interest in marketing, I had not been prepared for the freedom and creativity that this position has asked of me. Acclimating to a new environment and realm of production was strange for me but also helpful, because it showed me the simple fact that I can adapt. Doing new things has become less frightening, and it's actually moved into the category of things I do purposefully rather than things to avoid like the plague.
Stepping out of my comfort zone has always been a problem of mine. As I have mentioned, I am a mundane, plain, little bitty person of routine. A lot of this stems from the fact that I am an uncommonly awkward person. That makes me fear judgement a lot. People judge others whether or not they have the right to; it’s a fact of life. Another is that, you don’t have to listen to judgments, but for me and I’m sure for others, it is easy to listen to bad criticism rather than positive feedback. In order to avoid bad criticism, I did only things that I was good at, activities I had felt comfortable doing and had knowledge of. In avoiding bad criticism, I also avoided positive feedback, which stunted my growth as a person. I was afraid to say things for fear of sounding stupid or ignorant, I kept my opinions to myself for fear of being unpopular, and I didn’t do many things that were fun because I feared looking foolish. Writing a weekly article was most certainly not in the realm of things that I felt comfortable doing. I’m not sure if it is now, but I have come to the point where experience is making me less fearful.
The last thing writing has helped me with is, learning about myself. I did not think I had much to say. I did not inspect my opinions or thoughts about things. They were tucked away to be pulled out later for further use, but I myself did not know them. I have come to learn more about myself and question who I am through my words.
That is what I want for you, the reader: go out, do something new, something that puts you out of your realm of expertise, do something that makes you learn about who the real you is. Maybe even start writing for Odyssey.
