Truth be told, I never really liked writing. Growing up, anything that had to do with English I absolutely dreaded. I didn't like reading, I didn't like poetry and I especially didn't like writing. I was a total math geek. But in the last year, maybe longer, I have done a complete 180. I have come to actually enjoy all the things I didn't like before and Odyssey gives me the ability to do all three.

I have come a long way since my very first Odyssey article. I have grown much more confident in my writing and I have learned to express myself in a way that is not only beneficial to myself but to others as well. I even got out of my tiny comfort zone.

When I first joined Odyssey I wasn't even sure if this was something that I would be good at or if I could keep up with everyone else's writing abilities. Yet I tried anyway and yes, in the beginning, I struggled with more things than I'd like to admit, but here I am almost an entire year later and absolutely loving it.

Throughout my time as a content creator, I have written about 50 articles and each week my writing improves. The difference between my early articles and my most recent articles is night and day. My writing is more clear, organized and thought out and it wouldn't have been that way if I didn't have some of the best editors working with me and giving me tips and tricks, to the point now where I barely even need them.

With the help of what I learned from what to do and not to do, I eventually wrote my very first poem. People seemed to enjoy it too, which was a major bonus given it was something I've never done before. I could barely get my point across without sounded like some Twitter rant at first and now I can write a poem that's organized and you know exactly what it is about without me having to say anything.

My writing has improved so much that much of the content that I put out is being featured on Odyssey's website and their Facebook page. I have over 240,000 page views on one of my articles, and I've been featured on Swoon. At the beginning of my journey, these were things I dreamed and hoped of. *Fingers crossed that I didn't just jinx myself*

I dreamed and hoped that my articles would actually reach an audience that could relate to what I was writing. At first it didn't have that big of an audience; it was literally my two best friends and a handful of close friends, but now I have people who I've never met before on the other side of the country who message me telling me that they enjoyed my articles and that they could relate to them. I have old coworkers, classmates and Odyssey team members who reach out to me saying that they love my articles and that I'm a great writer.

NEVER and I mean never in my entire life would I ever think that I would have people telling me that I can write well.

Speaking of my Odyssey team, not only are they such an amazing team, but I have made incredible friendships within this team. We have so many memories and inside jokes together. I wouldn't trade my Odyssey family for the world. Odyssey gave me a bunch of great friends and let's be real here, can anyone make it through college without a good group of friends? I didn't think so.

Writing for Odyssey gave me confidence that I never knew that I had. It gave me the ability to let go of things I was keeping inside and to myself. It gave me the ability to help people who have gone through what I went through. It gave me the ability to work on and develop a talent that I didn't think I had in me. Most importantly it gave me happiness. Writing for Odyssey is actually very rewarding and satisfying, in ways I can't even begin to describe.

Whenever I sit down to write out an article I feel like my thoughts just flow from my hand to the keys on my laptop, it's so natural. When I'm writing, I'm content with everything going on, and at the end, I'm always 100% happy with my work that I'm putting out.

I know it's only been just about a year, but I'm very excited to see what the future holds during my time with Odyssey.