Mia Walker Pennekamp

I absolutely love to write. Maybe that is because I view storytelling as such a beautiful, powerful art form -- The pinnacle of connection and knowledge. I never shy away from a new experience and have acquired many tales-to-tell and lessons-learned in my young 18 years. Growing up in Miami gave me the opportunity to submerge myself into boundless combinations of people and cultures. The opportunity to observe a shiny, concrete whirlwind of wonder -- and the will to scribble what I saw onto the pages of my leather-bound journal, in a breathless attempt to capture it all. This exposure has undoubtedly contributed to the young woman I am today. A young woman who is smart, capable, kind, and unafraid. I love the idea of the Odyssey because this platform gives a voice to young adults like myself, who are ready to be heard.