I know you probably get tired of seeing my face on your timeline once a week. I don't blame you -- I'd get annoyed, too. But I have never gotten the chance to explain myself and why I do what I do. Hear me out one last time.
1. I bet you didn't know that each time my article gets the most shares for the Georgia Southern University Odyssey, I receive $20. So, unless my article is really lame, please share it (yes, I am begging) and help a broke college girl eat on the weekends.
2. I want to make an impact on people. This is the main reason I write. I want what I write to make a difference in someone's life, help them make a decision, or even be a sense of comfort. What's the point if people aren't reading?
3. I want to make a connection. It is an indescribable feeling when I see people I don't know share my story.
4. I want to be heard; who doesn't? During the day, I have so many thoughts that I just can't keep it all inside. The coolest part about this is that someone else is thinking the same things I am. It feels nice to know other people hear you out and agree with your frequent rants.
5. Hopefully, this is just a start in a future career for me. I obsess over the future, which can be a blessing and a curse, but one thing I know for sure is that I want to write -- children's books, press releases, save-the-dates, anything. I just love putting words on a paper.
6. When is the last time you wrote someone a letter and actually sent it in the mail? Writing is personal, romantic, but lost in our society today. At any point in time, I can pull out my shoebox full of letters from my friends that we have exchanged. Writing for The Odyssey has allowed me to keep up with the times of technology. In the years to come, I can find my articles published online.
The most incredible feeling is seeing your shares reach 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000. But seeing the number 74,632 shares and 181,890 reads puts into perspective the importance of putting your feelings on paper, or a screen. Thank you to everyone who supports me each week. It means more than this article can describe.