When I was told that Odyssey needed new writers, I was very excited and wanted to join right away. Then a few thoughts came to my mind and I became quite hesitant to join. Here’s why:

First thought: I was very excited at first because I knew I could apply without competition or any sort of elimination process as I am not much the competitive type. I thought this could be a new adventure, a way to discover new things about myself and others. I truly felt like a kid who had just be given a brand new toy to play with. I imagined myself wearing small glasses at the tip of my nose and typing away on the keyboard of my computer just like you see journalists do in the movies, even though I knew that movies aren’t the exact reality.

Second thought: The excitement of the previous thought lasted for only a few minutes as I thought to myself that this is a big responsibility to take on. This was the first thought that made me hesitate. A program I have joined at school keeps me very busy each day, and sometimes night. I had no idea if I could place time in my schedule to write articles, even though I really wanted to.

Third thought: I am simply not a very good writer. I write, but I do not necessarily write well. Before joining Odyssey, there were only two occasions on when I had to write: school and my diary. I was never the best student in my Literature or English class so I was scared to maybe not be able to get my point across correctly or not have the best grammar, especially since I am foreign.

Fourth Thought: Do I really want to do this? Do I really need this? Will it be a waste of my time? Does it relate to anything I really want to do later in life? This is when I thought to myself that whatever I decide, it will be a new adventure. Just like I go search online for interesting things to read about, maybe there will be some people out there who might read my articles and perhaps even like them. I don’t necessarily plan on writing about the current events like Donald Trump’s election or anything of the sort, but about my life, what I know, and my perception of things. I want others to learn from my experiences whether they were good or bad or simply be aware of things that they might necessarily know. I want to share my knowledge and not keep it all to myself.

Thought after I joined: I am not doing this only for readers and for my article to be read, but also for myself. Maybe writing is something that I’ll enjoy very much and will continue in life doing. Maybe I won’t like it and will stop in a month. Who knows? In simple words, writing for Odyssey is a new experience in my life. Whatever I get out of writing for Odyssey will have an outcome that will help me grow into someone who will become the future me, whether the outcome is positive or negative. This is a new challenge that I am ready to take on.