As a child, I didn't share the aspirations of other munchkins. I had no interest in being an astronaut, a firefighter, a musician or an actor. As far back as I can remember I've wanted to change the world through writing. For years my parents commented on how reporting was always one sided and how there was always another side to the story, even if you were already telling two or three sides. This sparked a love for journalism and when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I proudly announced "A journalist! I want to report on all sides of the story."

In highschool, I discovered another kind of writing; the creative kind. By the time I graduated, I had been smitten by the writing bug and thought I confess to writing some not so memorable poems and short stories, there are a couple of good ones that I'm rather proud of. In my short first stint at university, I spent most of my twenty four hours cooped up at the student newspaper HQ, conducting interviews, writing stories, editing, proofing, smoking and, occasionally, drinking. After a year of writing news, I was given the opportunity to review an art show. The freedom of reviewing struck a cord and slowly, I migrated to the "culture" side of the paper. I spent three blissfull years pouring my insides onto paper and then APEC happened. To this day, the APEC ordeal is one of the most traumatic and life changing events that I have experienced. More than just proving to me that authority will always be abused, even by the individuals with the best intentions, it also left a gaping whole in my writing and since then, I have written little other than term papers and blog entries.

At my bookcrossing meeting yesterday, someone released a variety of writing books and it reminded me of this passion which now seems so far in the past. Where I was once carried a book and pen everywhere and was constantly writting down thoughts, phrases and words, I am now content to simply read someone elses thoughts, phrases and words.

Will my passion ever re-emerge or has it been lost for ever?