First of all, if you’re reading this, congrats! It’s been a stressful, difficult, harsh past year, and I really hope that soon, things will be taking a turn for the better.
Looking back on the past school year, I’ve changed in a lot of ways, and one of the biggest ways is that I started writing articles (I’d only written papers before) and publishing them for Her Campus. I used to get self-conscious when people would even read my academic writing, let alone something personal to me with my own casual-but-awkward tone. And I can’t lie, when I first started writing for Her Campus, I just hoped that no one I knew would ever find these articles.
9 (now 10) articles later… well, if you’re reading this and you know me, hello! This is where I write about things close to me, whether serious (immigration, sexism) or lighthearted (Trader Joe’s pumpkin products). Sometimes they’re just mini rants, and sometimes they’re silly ramblings to make me feel better. Either way, writing here has helped me share my opinion with even a tiny piece of the world.
If you’re considering publishing something, even something small, I would really recommend it! If you feel embarrassed about posting something, I would recommend it even more. I used to feel embarrassed at first too, but overall, I’ve become a lot less self-conscious about not just posting my writing, but sharing my opinion with others in general. In fact, I’ve found that sometimes, people will reach out to me and agree with what I’ve written! I try to keep an open mind when writing, because I know that it can feel like I’m only putting my opinion out there, but I want to invite others to share their opinions as well.
Writing has certainly helped me process my emotions and increase my feelings of self confidence, and I think it could do the same for you. Just remember to keep an open mind by reading whenever you can (like you are right now)! Good luck!