Students at Kennesaw State and all over the globe should share their stories and past experiences. Whether the story is small or large, telling a story is powerfully helpful to both the teller and the listeners.
Sharing your story sheds some light on what to do correctly in unfavorable situations, how to learn from past mistakes and how to improve mental health in doing so. Sharing will also let others know that they are not alone in their experience.
“I think students should share their experiences,” a senior chemistry major, Brianna Woolery said. “I think if you can understand where a person is coming from and their perspective, it helps you understand their values, beliefs and motifs.”
Countless people have undergone unimaginable suffering, but knowing that others have felt similar pain can help someone else feel less alone as they can feel hope and start to regain control of their life.
Growth is a vital part of sharing your story. Most people who do not share their story are afraid of judgment. While sharing a story may be scary, students need to realize that their stories will do more good than harm. Once an individual overcomes their fear of sharing, confidence and courage will increase for them.
There are a lot of stigmas associated with mental illnesses. According to an article from Mayo Clinic, stigma usually leads to people making judgemental remarks about mentally ill people, and the mental state of the ill person can deepen. If people shared their stories, the prejudice and judgments can subside. The more people who talk about their experiences, the more other people will tell their stories as well.
A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology revealed that sharing positive stories increased both intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. Overall, the people who shared their experiences felt a greater life satisfaction.
Sharing your story can feel physically and mentally liberating. It is a great way of releasing all of those emotions and letting go of the past. One can also find peace and closure in sharing. As the story comes out of a person, so do all the negative, degrading thoughts attached to it.
“I’m coming up on year four since my depression and anxiety were at their worst, and while I’ve had several moments of relapse, I’ve overall never felt so grounded,” senior communications major Emily Dukes said. “Learning to fight this, to first and foremost prioritize myself and my health, to surround myself with healthy people; that’s what’s rooted me.”
Remember that a student’s story still belongs to the student — and they should never be pressured or forced to share their experiences. The students choose if and when to share it.
“I’ll face dark places again, for sure, as we all do,” Dukes said. “But I’ve seen the light. I’ve tasted what it feels like to survive a really hard, clawing-tooth-and-nail battle, out of the woods. And now I get to bring the light to others. I get to remind people light wins, every time.”
A shared story will be beneficial in many ways and will never fail to inspire at least one person. From battling a mental illness to recovering from an act of sexual assault, every story is impactful and worth telling.
