Considering it's only my second week writing for the Odyssey, and Valentine's Day is just a few days away, I decided this week's article would combine the holiday with "getting to know your author." I revised an old poem, breaking down everything about me someone should know if they're looking to get involved with me. I encourage you all to make your own lists, and feel free to share them with me! You might discover something about yourself.

Everyone has their quirks-
The little habits that either drive you up a wall or make you smile at the most random times.
The details you memorize and replay,
Like that one record you keep under your pillow
As a literal reminder that it's always stuck in your head.
Your entire relationship with someone
Is almost dependent on whether or not these quirks delight or infuriate you.
So to all future contenders;
Here are 18 things you need to know if you're going to fall in love with me.
1. My idols are important to me.
I don't care what your feelings on them are,
Do not pass judgement on ANY of the people that have inspired me,
Whether they're a singer, a teacher, or an OFC,
They mean something to me,
You should respect that.
2. My older brother probably won't like you.
My step dad will pretend he doesn't,
Just go with it.
They have some of the biggest hearts I've ever seen,
And they're just looking out for me.
3. If you don't like being told how loved you are,
If you don't like an endless amount of gratitude and care thrown your way,
You're getting involved with the wrong person.
You see, tomorrow is not guaranteed.
There was a time when my tomorrows were always questionable,
When nothing was going right in my life,
So I am overly appreciative of the good around me now.
Ask my friends, they all know.
I'll never go a day without trying to make you smile;
And maybe I try too hard sometimes,
But it's just because I hate having doubts and second guessing,
And I never want my loved ones to experience that with me.
4. My thoughts are so loud, I can't hear your criticism -
This is really just a fancy way of saying that I'm stubborn as all hell.
I don't have opinions on things that don't matter;
Don't make me pick the restaurant
Don't get angry when I say "whatever you want,"
I really will eat whatever you're in the mood for.
I don't have a side of the bed
Or clever ideas for date night -
However, when something's important to me
I'm not afraid to strongly express my opinions.
I will take yours into account.
I will never become the person you can't bring up a certain topic with.
I will always be open to new ideas,
As long as you are too.
5. If you point to a same-sex couple and say "ew"
Or scoff,
Or roll your eyes,
Or call it "unnatural,"
You officially can't be my date when and if some of my closest friends get married.
That's a problem.
If you point to a transgender individual and purposefully misgender them.
If you see them going into their preferred bathroom and label them a pervert,
I'm walking away.
6. There will probably be a poem or two about you.
It might be a repeat of things I've said to your face,
Or you might never hear those words escape my lips,
But they're all going to be uniquely strung together just for you.
7. There's nothing I hate more than a liar.
I believe this to be beneficial on both ends,
For if you're honest with me,
I will have nothing but respect for you.
You could do the most despicable of things,
I may not like it,
I may get hurt,
But I'll still respect you for telling the truth.
And if I'm honest with you,
You'll never have to guess what I truly mean.
If something's wrong, you'll be the first to know.
If I say I'm fine, I genuinely am.
It is not your job to figure me out,
I will never expect you to know what I mean if I don't say it.
8. I'm insecure.
Sometimes, I hate myself more than the sound of metal scraping metal.
Sometimes, looking in the mirror is the biggest challenge of my day.
Sometimes my poems won't be about you,
But about the other man in my life.
The man that set up his tent in my head
And loves camp almost as much as I do.
And if you get to know me enough to love me,
You'll know all about him.
Don't be surprised when he takes over.
I'm sorry if I don't accept your compliments,
I'm sorry if I question whether or not you really care.
So many people have left me in the past for being who I am,
I learned to expect it from people.
If that's really not you-
All you have to do is show me.
9. I can't sing,
But I love doing so.
10. Camp is my favorite place in the world.
It saved my life and made me who I am.
And if you're important to me,
Chances are I'll want to share it with you.
11. Sundays are all yours.
12. If you don't like dogs, we can't be together.
I'm getting multiple.
13. If I'm yours and you are mine,
I'm not the jealous type.
I put my faith in people-
Some call it naivety,
I call it expecting from people what you give.
But if you tell me that I'm the only one you have eyes for,
Have as many friends that are girls as you want,
But you don't want to see what happens if I find out you lied.
14. I'll try to be romantic,
But I'm not that creative.
15. I'll probably take aesthetic photos of you while you pretend you're not looking.
16. I'm gone the minute you pick up a cigarette.
I'm not going to lose you to that, too.
17. I don't know how far along my cooking skills will be by the time we meet...
Just a heads up.
18. "I have a heart of gold and not a heart of steel."
I'm not bulletproof,
I have emotional scars.
But I can promise to love you as you need me to love you.
I will hold your hand on the busiest street corner in town,
And in the comfort of our own home.
I will kiss you for the first time at my family dinner.
My social media will be flooded with your picture,
And my friends will never forget your name.
I'll tell you I love you even in the moments when I don't want to,
I'll tell you I love you in the moments when you don't want me to.
I'll never be okay with you wallowing away in sorrow-
I'll always try to help one way or another;
Even if I can't.
I will offer you every part of me if it means you can be whole again.
When I come home from work,
I will still be happy to see you.
I'll get angry with you.
I'll challenge you and put up a fight when you tell me I'm wrong.
I'll kiss you and apologize when I find out that I am.
I can be the biggest pain in the ass sometimes,
But I'll love you deeper than any metaphor I can think of.
I'm the farthest thing from perfect -
I was never the girl all the guys longed for.
But if I care about you,
I'll make up for it.
No, I'm not perfect,
And neither are you,
But with any luck,
You'll make me forget.
You'll make it really hard for me to not believe in perfection.
And man, will I treat you like you are.