I will always believe that writing is the greatest form of self-expression. I have felt this way since I first learned how to hold a pencil and form a sentence.
Most kids in school dreaded writing assignments, but I always looked forward to them. The topic could’ve been as simple as a dog, and I would write a novel about it.
To this day, I have never lost that spark.
In my four years of college, whenever I got the chance to take a writing-based course, I jumped on it. Whether it was fiction, poetry, or drafting press releases, I loved every second of it.
So when the opportunity came to take a class where I could write for the school newspaper, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I wasn’t afraid to try something new this time like usual.
The best part about this whole experience was having my own column. I had my own space where I could talk about anything that my little heart desired. Not only was I able to talk about all of my interests however and whenever I wanted, but nobody could tell me to shut up about them.
Something that I’ve noticed since starting Hear Me Out was that it didn’t only benefit my writing and storytelling skills. It also benefitted me mentally. I am someone who usually keeps my feelings to myself. I bottle it up until I explode.
But having a space to write freely gave me a place to let my feelings out.
I poured all of my emotions into my writing, and when I was done, I felt a sense of relief.
When I bottle my feelings up for so long, my mind becomes foggy.
Writing it out has helped me understand all of the different thoughts in my mind.
When I started writing here, my mental health was a mess. My driving anxiety was through the roof, and it felt like I was right back at square one, where being alone with my thoughts was scarier than being in a car.
So what did I do? I wrote about it to gather myself.
Of all the pieces I’ve written, Driving Anxiety And Where I Am Now is the one that sticks with me the most. It was the first time I went into detail about how hard a tragic loss due to a car accident affected me. It felt so good to be vulnerable and get that off my chest.
Being part of the staff for this publication has also pushed me out of my comfort zone. Growing up, I was never one to put myself out there. I was insanely shy. Nobody would ever catch me going up to a stranger and starting a conversation, unless I was with my mother or my brother. This followed me for the majority of my life I think about it.
Something I learned quickly was that in the journalism world, there is no room to be shy. Being shy isn’t what gets you interviews, big opportunities, and awards. You have to push yourself out of that shell.
Learning how to walk up to and get them to agree to interview you on camera was intimidating. Back-to-back rejections at first from random people annoying, but that comes with reporting.
Once I figured out how to make it more comfortable for someone to agree to an interview, the process became much easier. The rejections lessened, and I felt more confident putting myself out to talk to people.
It wasn’t just about getting quotes anymore.
It became about creating connections everywhere I went. Listening to others to understand their perspectives and choices and making people feel seen by telling their stories meaningfully.
As heavy as my workload felt, as stressful as it got at some points, it was a learning experience I will never forget.
This experience showed me that I want to keep writing, whether it’s for a publication, a personal blog, or even just for myself. It became essential to who I am and who I want to be.
At first, it may have felt like just another course credit. But over time, it turned into something more significant to me. I’m thankful I got the chance to write what I wanted to write and even more grateful that people have taken the time to read it.
