Words are powerful.

But they are hard. They are dangerous. They can be horrifying, pretentious, provocative, and harsh.

Words have the power to bind wings to human backs.

But words have the power to sear scars on human hearts.

I have never been someone who speaks fluently with confidence or eloquence. But place a paper and pen in my hand, a blank document and a keypad under my palms, or an empty sky above my head and the words gravitate together.

It was in high school that I learned how to speak through writing. I found my voice in the written words where my vocal cords only produced silence and an incomprehensible jumble of language. I learned how to speak my mind, share my ideas, and express my emotions when I had previously felt trapped inside my head.

Writing is powerful.

It is thought out. It is reflective. It is startling and descriptive. It demands attention and remembrance because it is tangible.

Writing should be careful because it is a physical manifestation of a greater communication, symbolic of what sets us apart as humanity. It can be a means of encouragement, of strength, of persuasion, and of innovation.

Although we may never be speakers, we are writers.

We have influence.

We have responsibility.

We have boundaries to break, we have lessons to teach, and we have stories to share.

This is why writing has become one of my passions, and why I want to encourage others to use writing to learn about themselves, about the world, and share what they learn with others. I want to build up the talents that are overlooked and underrated, but they can have such a positive influence over this next generation and eventually our world. This is why I love words.