"The ability to write is the ability to lead."
Scrolling through Facebook you see plenty of articles; from Buzzfeed, news outlets, TSM/TFM, and sometimes even a post from a personal blog. College students spend so much time on the internet reading articles, but hardly are ever behind the articles, or even think that they could have the chance to.
While at college, we are bombarded with opportunities. Opportunities to join this club, or take that class, or travel to this country, and we are pressured to do more and more to be as appealing to employers as possible. We are taught that we need to beat out the “competition” and to be the best that we can in order to get a good job and be successful. Students hardly have time to stop and put down their thoughts, to share their inspirations, or to connect with the world around them on a larger scale. This is where being a writer comes in.
Writing experience is completely underrated. Every student is expected to write well during and after college, but many of us are in majors where writing is not a main component. Just as your math skills will get rusty after years without a class, your writing skills will also deteriorate if they’re not utilized. Practicing writing is a habit as important as going to the gym everyday, or reading through your notes before class. Can you get by without it? Yes. Will you succeed at the highest level? No.
Communication is the key to success in today’s world. Other skills are obviously important, but if you cannot convey your thoughts accurately and properly, you will not be able to reach your highest level of success, professionally or in relationships. The ability to share your thoughts with the world, whether it’s about how to make high heels more comfortable or why a crisis halfway around the world should matter to you, is an important skill. Representing yourself through words means that you can also represent a company, and having published work means that you can prove it.
We are lucky enough to live in a country where freedom of speech is a basic right. The ability to write and say what you want defines our democracy and our society. Writing can motivate, empower, and drive people to make a difference, and it can entertain, touch, and influence people and their thoughts. In the wise words of my managing editor, “the ability to write is the ability to lead.”
Any college student that is not a writer is missing a crucial opportunity for their personal and professional development. They are missing out on a chance to make themselves a better person, to get their voice heard, and to contribute to society on a greater level. Don’t feel like missing out anymore? Then get involved, and become a writer. Apply online at www.TheOdysseyOnline.com/Apply