The Power of Sharing Your Story

Project MyStory has given me many things to take away this semester. I learned that my words can reach out to others and inspire them. I was never really confident in my writing, I would often write things in a notebook and they would never see the light. Project MyStory was the first outlet where my work has been publicly shared, and I actually wasn’t embarrassed to have my work read. Not only did I received positive feedback on my writing from my friends and family, but also another student at the University, a stranger. One reader sent me a message on Facebook and told me about how my experience in choosing my major had inspired him. He said he liked reading about how I worked hard even with struggles in front of me, this gave me hope. It was my second post and I didn’t think anyone was reading my work or that anyone cared to read it. This message gave me motivation to write better and to write more for those who I could potentially inspire, just like the student who sent me a message. I hope other readers have also gained the same inspiration and motivation that this student told me about. I hope they gained useful knowledge in how to survive freshman year without gaining the Freshman 15 or how to last without losing their mind over a bad rooming situation. But most importantly I hope my readers realize that any change that college brings can be managed and overcome with hard work and thought.

However, the most important things I took away from Project MyStory is that I am never alone. I was shown this through my fellow Project MyStory bloggers, who I feel I have also connected with through their blogs. Whether it be through Karen, Project MyStory blogger for “Because I Need You,” describing her heartwarming bond between her and her little sister. I see traits in her story that mirror my own experience but in a different way, rather than being the big sister I am the little one. Her post reminded me of how I need my big brothers just like she needs her little sister, Destiny. I see the parallel between my brothers taunting me with insults causing me to be grouchy and Karen becoming grouchy from Destiny’s cries. Or maybe it was the connection I felt while reading Christina’s post about joining clubs, even as a sophomore I find it hard to find clubs to find and fit in with. Christina’s story of trying again and again to find a club where she felt at home was inspiring to me and encouraged me to even look up other clubs offered at our University that might spark my interest. She also made me feel more comfortable with the fact that I haven’t found a club that works well for me yet, because like she said that it’s okay not to always click with everyone. I also felt connected to Lee, who wrote about how you are more than your grades. I’ve had some tough semesters grade-wise in my past and it has gotten me pretty down about myself. Once I received a bad grade. I made myself feel depressed and unmotivated; I felt I could not succeed. This is very similar to how Lee says he felt but once he realized that if you think about the task with a strong positive mind it will become easier. I connected to this well because I noticed that when I too, think positively, I work better and focus more. Overall the Project MyStory experience is more than just writing to help others with challenges they face but to also connect and I have not only connected with my readers but with my fellow writers whose stories resonate with me and their readers as well.

About the Author:

Kate E. 
Class of 2018 
Major: Communication 
Minor: Journalism and Philosophy
Spring 2016 Blog Theme: 
Metamorphosis

Please Note: The views of our student bloggers do not necessarily reflect the views of the UAlbany Advisement Services Center. These are their stories –  their voices.