A Tribute to Writing

My love for writing is infinite, as it made me appreciate life in multiple perspectives. Sipping a cup of tea while listening to my acoustic favourites on Spotify had me immersed completely in my own world. I jot down experiences like how I felt when I first walked into the grand college doors bursting with expectancy; I described the beauty of the quaint vast lake that expanded before my eyes when I looked down from the 19th floor of my hostel; I documented the peace that I felt walking alone in the deep, pervading night while looking up at the sky full of stars; through words, I vent the pain piercing through my heart when I was hurt. The reflection on past experiences pulls out emotions that are deeply buried within my heart. The values that were built based on those experiences, created my character.

Writing has forged me in many ways. I am who I am today because of an open-heart. Through writing, I learned to observe, listen and feel the details in life. I learned to listen whole-heartedly to the people around me, which built me many vital connections in life.

Connecting with someone just by listening to their stories was the most miraculous thing that I have experienced as a human being. Writing down their stories in my journal sow seeds of compassion within me. To me, compassion is the corner stone towards building humanity.

The experience of writing humbled me. Composing a satisfying piece of writing was never easy, as I had to take positive criticism well from those who took time to glance it through. There was always something which required further editing to craft it to near perfection. To master the art of writing, I had to be proactive, open-minded and diligent to practice. During my free time, I often took the initiative to write down beautiful phrases plucked from newspapers, novels and magazines to improve my writing skills. Moreover, I enjoy writing down precious memories in my diary before bedtime, as it was the next best thing to do before it fades into nothingness. I find writing diaries as a viable alternative to unleash my thoughts and emotions, as some might be too uncomfortable to share with my friends and family.

Writing has expanded my creativity, sharpened my mind, trained me to be more analytical and focused. Sometimes I write about topics that require thorough research. As I soaked myself in the sea of knowledge, horizons were broadened and new information was discovered. Moreover, my critical thinking skills were enhanced as I strived to think out of the box to present my thoughts and ideas in the most interesting way to engage my audience.

Writing has the power to change lives, like how it has changed mine. Eventually, my passion for writing drove me to sign up as a young journalist for The Star. I never could have imagined how my hobby grew into something more than just writing for pleasure, it developed into a fruitful experience of writing for an entire nation of youngsters just like me.