In my first semester at Miami University, they were sponsoring a visit from the renowned picture documentary company, Dear World. I have always loved looking at their portraits and reading the stories behind them and figuring out how the words on people's bodies fit into their stories. However, what I didn't realize at the time was that connecting the portrait and the story are essential to Dear World's theme and overall message.
I had originally not planned on going to the Dear World portrait event because I had a narrow window in between classes, but my friends convinced me to go. My friends already knew what they wanted to write, so I was left by myself at a table to reflect upon my life experiences. I knew what experience I wanted to write about, but I did not know if I wanted to be that vulnerable in front of so many people.
As I was having that internal debate of using a cute, insignificant saying or a deep, vulnerable one, a girl walked up to me and asked me to write her words on her. Then when I was done, she asked what I wanted her to write on me. It was do or die time. I told her, "I need you to say yes." She thought it was rather captivating. I pulled the top of my sweater down and had her write it down my chest.
I hopped into a line by myself that seemed to stretch forever. I ferociously scrolled through social media in an attempt to avoid talking to other people and being asked what my quote meant. I noticed a worker walking down the line asking people their stories. I silently listened to other people tell theirs to her and hoped she'd skip me. Of course, she didn't.
She introduced herself as CC from Dear World. So I explained to her that someone had assaulted me and that my quote was directly related to that experience. She thanked me for sharing my story, then I sat down for my portrait. As I walked down the steps to leave, CC came back up to me.
She told me how they were having a live storytelling event tonight, and asked if I was free. I told her I had a party, otherwise, I would come. Her face dropped a little, then said she had asked because she wanted me to share my story in front of the hundreds of people that would be attending. Needless to say, I reconsidered the party.
I met with her two hours later to form my story. We sat down for 30 minutes and crafted the perfect story to tell about my sexual assault. Then, I left and sat in my room for hours. Just waiting.
The time came, and I got dressed and walked to the building and sat down in the first seat in the first row. I met the other students who had been chosen to be speakers, and they all joked about wondering what story I could have to tell. We sat down in our order, and the show started.
CC explained that all of our stories are connected by the fact that our individual experiences highlight larger issues on Miami's campus. Oh boy.
She introduced me and I walked up on the stage, turned to the side and saw my portrait on either side of me, then faced forward. I began my story of sexual assault, and I truly don't remember anything else. I blacked out during my talk. Then I was back in my seat and listening to the others talking.
After the presentation was over, my fellow presenters and I hugged and congratulated each other, even though we had no idea who the others were an hour ago. We were no longer people presenting, we were official Dear World Storytellers.
It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. It was unbelievably freeing to share my story with others at my university who might have struggled with a similar issue or know somewhere who has. After the presentation, the girl who had written my words on me came up to me sobbing and thanking me for sharing my story.
I'm forever grateful I chose to speak instead of going out that night. I will always encourage everyone to take the time and effort to be vulnerable if you are given that opportunity.
