My hand hits the page or I open a blank google doc and I am free. For once, my mind is allowed to be free. With each pen stroke or word typed, I have the ability to express myself in the way that I feel most confident: writing.

Growing up, I viewed writing as a monotonous task attached to the mundane nature of writing for school. Writing frustrated me as I was forced to be compliant with teachers demands and strict rubrics with little to no room for self expression. As a stubborn child given no freedom to write the way I wanted, writing inevitably became something I didn't love. This made my writing suffer and completely diminished my confidence in my own writing.

My viewpoint on writing took a complete 180 in high school and college when I found ways inside and outside of the classroom to use my own voice in my many papers (as a communication major). In the classroom, I am able to think outside the box and apply topics that I am interested in to fit the rubric. Outside of class, I have loved writing for the Odyssey which gives my voice a platform. This new way of thinking served as a catalyst for my love for writing to develop. Whenever I am stressed or have extra time, I will often find myself writing which serves to calm down my thoughts and feelings. Writing is a very special instrument because no matter if your voice is shared to many or few, there is the beautiful opportunity for self expression. You can truly have a voice that you feel confident of.