In elementary school, there were many subjects that I didn't appreciate so much, such as math and reading. The subject that I was always most excited about was writing. It was back then when I discovered my love for expressing myself when I put pen to paper.

I've never been much into academics, so writing was something that I always seemed to excel in throughout my years in school. I still look back to the days in first grade when we got to write and draw a picture in a journal; it was my favorite! Little did foolish first grade me know, writing was a way to express myself. I struggled and still do struggle with anxiety, so jotting my thoughts down helped get my anxious feelings out. I feel as though I am better at expressing myself through writing more than anything else. Whether it is through a blog, a social media post, text, pen to paper, or typing, I feel as though my thoughts get out more clearly when I can write it out. No, I'm not majoring in journalism or professional writing, but writing on the side is just a hobby of mine. Who knows, maybe I could do some writing with my future degree in marketing!

Luckily, I have the opportunity to keep up my writing skills with being a part of Odyssey. I get to free write about whatever I want, rather than being told the exact subject matter. So far, this opportunity has allowed me to write about things that have bothered me, and I couldn't be happier to share it with the world. There are things that I have written for The Odyssey that I never thought I would have the guts to write about, until I realized that the beginning of me expressing myself to the world was just a share button away.

I write to express. I don't write to impress. I write for myself. I write for me.