Among the many other stress relieving activities, I find writing therapeutic. I originally found it comforting to have something as personal as a diary or a journal that would solely consist of my own thoughts. It was even more comforting to know that my thoughts wouldn’t be judged and didn’t even necessarily have to make sense because I knew that I understood them.

As my writing progressed both academically and personally, I began to open up to the idea of having someone else read my work. At first, the idea of sharing my writing with other people somewhat scared me -- having something personal be so public was a feeling that I had never experienced before. The image of my words being so vulnerable, out in the open, and subject to the judgment of both peers and strangers discouraged me from sharing my work for a long time. As time went on, I became inspired by the reactions and positive feedback that people would share after they had read an article that they truly found interesting, or could completely relate to. Each post of positive feedback that I witnessed was another step in the direction of the decision to share my work.

Although the collaboration and idea of sharing our individualistic ideas is not a new concept, it is forever changing. I was fascinated to discover how virtually impossible it is to run out of things to write about. From categories and the subcategories within them, to political opinions and healthy lifestyle tips, there is an abundant amount of things to write about. The plethora and range of topics fuels the world of journalism and creative writing.

The main reason I took a liking to writing, is that in it, I am able to express my words in the exact manner that I intend for them to be interpreted. Growing up in a world where everything is said, published, printed immediately, leaves more than enough room for error-- making editing and revising after being published a frequent but poor habit. And although my work is never flawless, writing provides me with the opportunity to nearly perfect my work, rather than immediately responding in person (through this process I learned that I was a meticulous perfectionist, making it quite difficult for myself to complete the writing process at first).

I found that I expressed myself better through written word rather than spoken. But as I began to evolve as a writer, putting my exact thoughts into words became easier and easier each time. Writing for Odyssey has helped me grow as both a writer and a person. Through it, I have also developed a greater sense of self-confidence in my work. Looking back now, I can’t believe I was ever intimidated by the idea of publishing my work. It is truly rewarding to see all of your friends and family reading your work and receiving such positive encouragement from them-- so thank you, to those of you reading this!

Writing will always hold a special place in my heart. I think there’s something beautiful about the way words come together to create a single sentence and convey such powerful emotions. However, words can only depict such experiences to a certain level-- it’s the person behind those words or perceiving those words that determine their meaning. Writing can empower an individual and reveal a mutual understanding that a person might not have even known he/she were capable of. Words are so much more than means of communication. Words are powerful.