On October 1st, we started accepting applications for our first ever high school campaign The Storytellers. Below is Part One of a blog from our coordinating team for The Storytellers. Chloe shares a bit about her own high school experience and why she is so excited to co-lead the program. Check back next Wednesday to hear from Katie.
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My first day of high school was in August of 2001. I feel old just saying that, even though I’m only 24. Despite the fact that it has been a decade since I started high school and six years since I graduated, I can still remember what it felt like to be a high school student struggling with anxiety and depression. I remember how even with my close group of friends and loving family, I didn’t feel I could share with them what I was going through. I didn’t understand why I felt anxious and sad when, for the most part, my life was good. I had great grades, played sports, spent the majority of my free time with friends and family. I had a car, two jobs, and a boyfriend.
And yet I was uncomfortable in my own skin.
I was scared. Unsure. Frustrated. Confused.
I also didn’t know this was something a lot of other people were going through. For some people, high school is a place where they feel alive, flourish, and achieve. For others, it’s a struggle, a land of bullies and loneliness.
TWLOHA has answered thousands of messages from high school students over the years. There have been sad stories and happy stories. Our hearts have both ached and rejoiced. Your words motivated our team to create a program specifically for high school students. The Storytellers is important because it actively engages high school students to share their story, talk about the things often kept in secret, bring the TWLOHA message to their campus, and most importantly, live life with other people. I feel lucky to be a part of making those things a reality.
—Chloe
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We believe in the power of high school students. You all have a voice that can change your communities. We hope you will join us for the first term of The Storytellers or pass this along to someone you know that might be interested (in case you’re not in high school anymore).
The idea is simple: invite people who are passionate about TWLOHA, who have a unique platform every day of the school year, to tell our story. You, the high school students, get to use your creativity to decide how to tell the story, and we give you the resources to raise awareness and funds for an organization that matters to you.
Applications can be submitted here until January 15, 2012. The first term will begin on February 1, 2012 and conclude on May 15, 2012. You can find more specific information here. For any questions, please read our FAQ section, and if you don’t see an answer to your question there, please email [email protected].
With Love,
Chloe and Katie
P.S. We’re proud to announce the first 75 high schools accepted into The Storytellers. Two countries and 29 states, as far as Alaska, are represented in the list below.
Welcome, Storytellers. : )
North Mac High School
Mauston High School
Topsail High School
Gulf High School
The Visual and Performing Arts Center High School & Early College
Minarets High School
Western Reserve Academy
Bradford Area High School
Canyon Ridge High School
Eau Gallie High School
Buchholz High School
Regina High School
Hulett High School
Franklin Community High School
Alamogordo High School
Bluefield High School
Licking Heights High School
Soddy Daisy High School
Pueblo Central High School
George Washington High School
Hemet High School
Putnam County High School
Alvirne High School
West Islip High School
Andover High School
East Hall High School
Wrangell High School
Richmond High School
Coopersville High School
Dysart High School
Colorado High School
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
Marengo Community High School
Bergen County Academies
Morgan County High School
Decorah High School
Portal High School
Positive Outcomes Charter School
St. Elizabeth High School
Keith Country Day School
Mountain Vista High School
Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
Kennett High School
River Hill High School
Perrysburgh High School
John Paul II Catholic High School
Felicity-Franklin High School
Hermitage High School
Charter School of Wilmington
Bloomfield High School
Milton High School
Mountain View High School
East Rutherford High School
Blue Valley Northwest High School
Cole Valley Christian High School
Oakville High School
Pinckney Community High School
Scranton High School
AlWood High School
Celebration High School
Sherman High School
South Sumter High School
Oklahoma Christian School
North Davidson High School
Western Branch High School
Methacon High School
Udall High School
Billerica Memorial High School
Serrano High School
Lewis and Clark High School
école Secondaire Cochrane High School
Mackenzie Mountain School
Central Collegiate
Delta Secondary School
Burnaby North Secondary School