This piece represents my growth on The Muse because I've finally gained the confidence to embrace my passion for writing. Before writing this review, my perception of and experience within the draft process was limited to that of an editor. As my story moved through the drafts, I embraced a firsthand look onto what it's like to receive edits rather than only give them. I'm so proud of my development over the years and the ability for me to understand both viewpoints of the editing process as someone who has now created content myself.

During my first year on the staff, I was apprehensive to write since I was a copy staffer, but with the freedom to bring creativity into my work, I seized the opportunity. Combining my interest in astrology with my love of journalism, I wrote a satirical horoscope. I loved incorporating different ideas from academic and astrological life experiences into one piece. Students posted about the piece on social media platforms and even came up to me in person to express how much they enjoyed my piece. It was great to see the reach and impact of my writing on readers.

The frequent discussion about the college admissions process inspired me to write an opinion piece over winter break about the lack of support for other students' successes. I worried about the student body's possible reactions because I didn’t want to offend anyone. Through the editing process, I heard feedback from other editors to understand how other people may perceive my tone. I struggle with expressing my opinions, so it was rewarding to publish a piece filled with concrete ideas with research to support them.