Okay, so you know how people stand up and give their testimonies in church services? This is kinda like that but this is my Odyssey testimony. Long before I started creating content for Odyssey, I would often read articles written by others. I always thought it was crazy how someone else's article related so much to my life. I would literally sit for hours and read article after article. About a year ago, I experienced my first true heartbreak and I wasn't quite sure how to cope. The long drives, ice cream, long talks with friends, and music were no longer cutting it. I tried to shift my focus to makeup tutorials but that requires lots or preparation and takes lots of time to gain followers and rack up on views. I had seen some people I know become writers for Odyssey, so one night I decided to see if I could too. I signed up, a kind girl put me through the system and that is where I found my home writing for Austin Peay.

The team I'm with here at Austin Peay is WONDERFUL. In GroupMe we have our own little conversations and we're open to talk about whatever is going on in life. No, I've never met these people but they are so cool and helpful. If we're struggling with an article idea or just have a simple question, they're there. Our EIC, Jordan Privitt is so encouraging and flexible. When I first joined, she welcomed me with open arms, helped me get started and has been one of my biggest cheerleaders ever since. She, like the rest of us, is human and understands things pop up and we cannot submit our articles on time. It's such a good feeling. For this team and this position, I am thankful.

Writing for Odyssey has been a truly eye-opening experience. My very first article was about letting go of the heartbreak and moving forward; moving on to bigger and better things. I received lots of great feedback from friends and family. Hearing "I loved that article you wrote, it helped me so much," is such a good feeling. Naturally, some of my articles received more views than others but that is to be expected. Some content just doesn't fit everyone's life and it doesn't have to. I write what I write and whatever happens happens.

Odyssey, this is for you. I want to thank you for welcoming me onto the wonderful team you have and allowing me to reach out to others and being able to heal myself in the process. It's not often that we find things which enable us to "help ourselves by helping others." This has been an outlet for me to express myself through writing. By writing, I no longer suffer from the pain. I have refocused my attention on myself and my future. Thank you for teaching me to be more appreciative of myself as well as each and every lesson I have to learn throughout my life. I have a sense of purpose and I will never let anyone or anything get in the way of that. Having refocused my attention, I will have to give up writing in the near future so that I can focus more on my schooling. Until then, I will continue writing while I have the time. I owe it all to you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will always be a part of Odyssey Team. If you would like to be a part of a terrific team, apply to be a content creator here. You won't be sorry.