Who am I?

Hello, my name is Leah Arisman and this is my first article as a member of Odyssey! I would like to tell you all a little more about me and my writing. I'm twenty and a sophomore here at Illinois State University. My major is Psychology, but I am also pursuing minors in Criminal Justice Sciences and Sociology. I plan to go to graduate school and getting my Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology.

My dream job is to work for the FBI, but I am also really interested in working in mental hospitals and with criminals unable to represent themselves in court. Fun fact, I originally wanted to major in Creative Writing before I found out that Psychology was my passion. I'm from Springfield, Illinois, and I'm the oldest of four girls (my dad felt outnumbered, so he insisted we get a male dog-his name is Atticus).

One of my favorite hobbies is writing! I also love singing and dancing. I have been in several musicals including The Wizard of Oz, Bye Bye Birdie, The Addams Family, Footloose, Oklahoma, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I have been singing since I was 10. Also, I have been playing the piano since I was 4. I played volleyball for 5 years. I miss playing it since it was the only sport I was good at. Another hobby I've always had is reading. You will not see me without a novel in my book bag. I wanted to include a few of my favorite books but I have too many! I love anime and many American TV shows (again, I have too many favorites to decide which to publish here). However, a few of my favorite movies are Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inception, Train to Busan, and The Silence of the Lambs.

Why did I join Odyssey?

I decided to join Odyssey as a way to be able to keep writing creatively. Writing is how I express myself best and I love creating something that means a lot to me as well as something others can enjoy. I get my love of storytelling from my Grandma, who used to make up stories to help me calm down and help me fall asleep. I would hang on her every word. She helped cultivate my creativity and I am so grateful to her because I have grown into a creative person who appreciates the advantages of being involved in creative activities.

Who am I as a writer?

As a writer, I like to write about topics that interest me and topics that I think people will benefit from reading about. I usually write short stories with these topics interwoven into them in subtle ways, but sometimes I like to write purely informational pieces too. I often add my own experiences and feelings into my short stories. I really am a creative writer through and through!

I would like to thank Destiny and Nakita for introducing Odyssey to me, and for Kaylee for allowing me to join the team! I hope I can be a valuable member and keep my creativity alive!