Dear Odyssey,

When I read my first Odyssey article, I had no idea that my journey with you would be what it has been. You have given me so much and my experience with you is so valuable to me, and something I will cherish forever.

My beginning with you was a rocky one. I always had a passion for writing, and I had always been told I was good at it. When I applied and had my phone interview for the community at my previous school, I was denied the opportunity to write for and be a part of that team.

I had no idea why. I even texted the EIC and asked her for advice going into the future, thinking it might have been the phone interview that did me in. She never replied. I got over it.

When I transferred, I decided to give it another shot. I was accepted and started writing and quickly realized that Odyssey was giving me what my personal blog couldn't.

A well-known platform where my voice had a better chance of being heard.

Motivation to write, because I had to have something turned in every week.

Skills in writing, editing, and this thing called social strategy, which I wasn't being taught in school.

When my first post went viral, I refreshed Muse every other minute, just watching the number rise. I was so excited. People were reading what I wrote. And they liked it.

When I brought up my experience with Odyssey in an interview for an internship with a magazine, they were impressed.

Flash forward a few months later and I was contacted about being the EIC for my community. I said, "why not?" and accepted the position. Little did I know how much work it would be.

Little did I know that I would absolutely fall in love with it.

Odyssey was all I wanted to do. I was at my internship with the magazine, editing Odyssey articles. I was building relationships and building a strong team. My ME told me that we could be a powerhouse. And we would be.

Almost a year later, we grew from 6 to about 30 people. I'm still just as much in love with it as I was when I first started. I have 30 articles to edit every week, and no one has ever heard me complain. I respond to my creators at 11 p.m., because I love this team.

So thank you,

For giving me skills and experience I would have never learned in school.

For giving me the opportunity to be a leader.

For giving me a voice on your platform.

For giving me the opportunity to reach and touch others.

For keeping me in the habit of doing something I love.

And most importantly, for showing me what it's like to love your work.

I graduate in May, so in two short months, my time as EIC will be over. I know there are a few full-time positions open at HQ and you best bet I'm going to fight for one of those spots. It would be my dream. But, if it doesn't work out, know that you gave me so much.

I have given Odyssey so much of me and it has given right back.