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Student Life

Thank You For Everything, Odyssey

As I continue working toward my career in journalism, I will never forget where it all started.

Kayleigh Garrison

Feb 19, 2019

Michigan State University

Pixabay

I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I used to sit in my room for hours at a time and let my imagination wander. Math and science were never my strong subjects, but I've always had a way with words; many of the stories I wrote as a kid are still hanging on the walls of my childhood home today.

When I started college, I joined any and every club focused on journalism because I wanted to gain more experience and develop my journalism skills. I started writing for Odyssey in November 2015 after one of my friends suggested it. From there, I worked my way up to being a contributing editor in 2017 and the editor-in-chief in 2018. I have had 140 articles published (141 when this article is published), received more than 35,000 page views and been a part of a wonderful community of creative and inspiring people for a little more than three years.

2019 is all about starting fresh, trying new things and figuring out what I am passionate about. 2019 is also about saying goodbye to things that no longer fuel my passion. That being said...goodbye, Odyssey.

My mind and focus have been occupied in many different places for quite a while. I took a semester off from writing for Odyssey last fall so I could enjoy my experience studying abroad in England. When I returned home and started writing for Odyssey again, I realized that my happiness no longer lies within Odyssey and it's time for me to move on.

Writing for Odyssey has been an incredible experience. I am forever grateful for the platform it gave me to use my voice and give other people a voice. It taught me time management and getting my article(s) in by the deadline. It taught me how to be a leader and communicate with people - specifically my team when I was editor-in-chief. And it reminded me how much I love writing and that I should continue writing for as long as I live.

When I started writing for Odyssey as a bright-eyed, eager freshman, I had no idea it would change my life as much as it has and I had no idea I would still write for Odyssey more than three years later. I have grown so much since 2015 - as a writer, but more importantly, as a person.

I'm the happiest I've ever been and I'm more confident in my writing, my voice and myself than I've ever been; I'd like to think Odyssey helped me get to where I am today.

At one point, I imagined writing for Odyssey until I graduated from college, but things don't always work out the way we plan, and that's what makes life so exciting.

To all of the incredible content creators and editors I've worked with over the years, thank you for inspiring me. You matter and your voice matters. Never stop using your voice for the good of the world and writing about things you care about and things that matter.

To Odyssey, thank you for giving me a voice and giving me a platform to use my voice and give other people a voice. I am going to miss writing for this incredible online publication, especially because I feel like it has been a part of my identity for so long, but I am so excited to explore other opportunities and continue forging my path as a journalist.

As I continue working towards my career in journalism, I will never forget where it all started.

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