As I sit here and write my twentieth article for the Odyssey, I am shocked to see how much this experience has changed me not only as a writer, but also a critical thinker. During my first semester of college, a majority of my friends who are journalism majors began to write for the Odyssey. Prior to hearing about it from word of mouth, I never heard of such a creative outlook. Even though my majors and minor consists of writing in foreign languages, all of my friends wanted me to start writing. To their dismay, I was caught up on the idea that no one would want to read what I was expressing nor find anything that I am interested in as fascinating as I do.

Throughout my first semester, I watched my friends make videos, write articles and collaborate on various topics ranging from updates on their relationship status to the horrifying results of the election. It was honestly shocking to see that their content was becoming viral, reflecting how people from all around the world wanted to hear and read their inner thoughts. Fellow content provider and my day-one friend at Stony Brook University, Remi Schott, continuously urged me to apply and finally, I figured why not at the beginning of my spring semester. Even though I had no idea what I would want to write about, I figured this would be the one opportunity in my life to be as creative as I wanted. The Odyssey appealed to me because it has no boundaries. You are able to speak your mind freely without worrying about whether or not you are going to be chastised for your ideas and content. From that point on, my own personal Odyssey began.

When I was officially put in the chapter at Stony Brook University, I was overwhelmed. I wanted my content to not only grab the attention of the reader but also have a purpose. I wanted my content to change the way people think, give them a new perspective on a controversial topic, and most importantly, form a virtual connection between a reader and writer. Every single view I get on my content reflects someone out there who was interested in learning more about me and what I stand for.

As time went on and I reached my goal of creating 10 articles, I was contemplating taking a break from the Odyssey. I figured “Eh, I met my goal. I got my name out there. Why should I continue writing?” During spring break, I unexpectedly ran into someone I met in high school. Due to the hectic schedules after graduation, we had not had the opportunity to touch base and catch up.

To my surprise, the first thing that she brought up was the Odyssey.

Out of all people, I figured she would not have had the time nor the interest to read a bunch of articles written by a freelance writer. Contrary to my own personal beliefs, she revealed to me how important my writing was to her. She praised how relatable the material was and how I have the ability to change the perspectives of my readers. This was probably one of the most meaningful compliments I have ever received. It not only validated my work but also made me realize that I will never stop writing.

Even though my interests tend to be in foreign language literature and forms of expression, Odyssey has reminded me how powerful my native tongue is. Due to the fact that I had to get extra tutoring for writing and reading comprehension, I used to be extremely insecure about my literary abilities. However, with the Odyssey and the support of the writing community, I have been able to watch my writing grow and share it with the world.