“In a world so connected, we’ve never been more disconnected.” –Carmen Wilder
When considering how I want to impact the world, I observe the needs around me as well as draw from my own experiences to better understand and empathize with others. Something I have noticed is the lack of support for others on a day to day basis. We talk about how there should be more awareness for mental illness, advocates for victims of abuse, and champions for those who have no voice—but what do we do about it on the microlevel? I know it’s impossible for me as an individual to provide absolute support for everyone with whom I come in contact, but what if there was a way to broadcast to those who are struggling that there are kind, empathetic people willing to listen and help in any way they can?
To help solve this problem, one of my Montgomery Leadership fellows Brian Harris and I worked together to create the “Know Yourself, Know Your Worth” event. Our intent was to show Mississippi State students that there was peer support available for them. If we could show just one person that they were not alone, the project would be a success.
I think many of us get caught up in our own histories and our own problems. I know before I broke past my own walls and conquered my overwhelming perfectionism and truly began connecting with the people around me, I sometimes got lost in the anxiety of my own making and forgot to pay attention to the difficulties of others. It’s easy to do—we’re only human after all. However, at some point, we have to get past our own humanity for the sake of others’ humanity. Through this event, we hoped to not only succeed in our intended mission of showing those who were struggling that they have allies in their fellow students, but also give the opportunity to those like me who may need to have their eyes opened to what their focus in life should be.
We held the event on March 26th and 27th of 2018 on the MSU Drill Field which sits at the heart of campus. We set up tables of art supplies and paper that allowed MSU students to make encouraging posters (some had just encouraging quotes while others had words as well as decorative artwork) that were hung on a square PVC display structure we had built and wrapped with chicken wire. In addition to the homemade posters, we also provided brochures for Mississippi State’s Student Counseling Services and contact information for the Suicide Prevention Hotline.
The outcome of the event was more than we could have imagined. By the end of the second day, the display structure was completely covered in posters; and there were many students that may have only stopped by to read them but took a counseling center brochure or Suicide prevention card before leaving. Others took a brochure for a friend saying that with Brian and my open recommendation and honesty regarding the benefits of going to counseling, they hoped to persuade someone close to them to finally get help. Several people posted pictures of their favorite poster on social media or posted a video walk-around of the structure with the caption “Come stop by!”
We almost couldn’t believe how well it went. Originally, we had intended to make a mosaic of the posters and have it hung somewhere on campus for event exposure, with the hopes that someone might continue it next year after Brian and I have graduated. However, we decided that was not the most impactful direction we could take the event and have since determined that we should attempt to persuade the Counseling Services Center to implement “Know Yourself, Know Your Worth” into their program as art therapy and donate the left-over supplies to them to help jump start the process.
I think Brian and I both learned a lot from this project. Speaking for myself, I learned how to better take initiative with contacting people for help as well as what it takes to plan an event like this. My perfectionism was also challenged with how I had to trust someone else to get things done—which could not have been easier as Brian was the most efficient and thorough partner I could have asked for. However, it still took a leap of faith from me, and I think I’m a better person because of it. It made me more passionate about supporting those around me. In the future, I hope to continue to find new and creative ways to provide help, as well as recruit others to help, people that may not be vocal about their need for support.
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