The Power of Storytelling

What I learned in retail
I chose this video solely on the name. I worked in retail for a few years when I was much younger, so  I thought it would be interesting to see what other young people feel compared to my feelings on the topic.

Tough guise
Honestly, again, I chose this based on the name. Tough guise is a good play on words that caught my attention. I wasn't sure what it would  be about, but I guessed it would be about him putting up some type of an appearance to spare himself misery.

To have lived
I figured out that if you hover a video, a small description pops up. I chose this video because the description pulled me in instantly. I'm interested to know who young people consider to be successful; is it just celebrities? or can it be normal people, like our friends and family?

The age of me
I chose this video because the description reminded me of myself. I have always been said to be mature for my age. And, like Faith, there are reasons for this. I agree with her when she said there is nothing to do but grow up, man up, and deal with it because life goes on.

Forever Young
I picked this video because I can relate. There are some days the memories of childhood, of my sister and best friend and family as a whole, sweep over me so strongly. There are other days when I want to go back in time and just be as carefree and happy as I was back when I was a child and every decision I made didn't directly impact my future.


Forever Young is my favorite video of the ones I watched.

1) What do you like about the digital story?

I like the fact that this can be relatable to everyone. Each person had a childhood, whether good or bad, and there is always something that one can look back on and long for again.

2) What did you learn from the digital story?

Something that I didn't really learn, but that was just confirmed, is that people are alike, no matter how different we are. We all come from somewhere and we all belong to and love someone. Our past experiences have made us who we are today, and that is something we can never truly escape.

3) What surprised you about the digital story?

Honestly, nothing really surprised me. As an adult, I sometimes long for the innocence and simplicity of childhood, so it's not a surprise that a teen who is exiting childhood and slowly becoming more responsible and independent would also long for these familiar feelings as well.

4) What social problem was the digital story addressing?

I think that it was addressing, and perhaps unbeknownst to the author, that fact that adulthood is stressful! Jobs, relationships, kids, mortgages, daycare, bills, housework, cooking, cleaning... the list goes on and one. There are times when we don't want to 'adult' anymore. I know that I feel like this and I guarantee that other people have felt like this too.

5) How did the digital story provide an example of how digital storytelling can build self esteem, help young people voice an opposition to social problems, or create an alternative to stereotypes of adolescents typically portrayed in mainstream media? 

I don't think my favorite video really shows this, so I will discuss Tough Guise. In this video, a young man feels that he needs to suppress his true identity to keep him safe. This is a MAJOR social problem. Regardless of a religious point of view, I believe that people should accept someone for who they are. I think this video helped this young man to tell his story, and let other people in his same situation know that things can be okay and get better. He mentioned that he quit theater because he didn't want to be associated with it due to it having a "gay" connotation. I think that is sad for him and that he should be able to freely enjoy his life and the people/experiences that will come with it.

6) Do (or how do) these digital stories provide evidence of that these young people are engaged in analysis of their own culture?

Yes, I think these videos very much provide evidence that young people are engage in the analysis of their culture. Hiding your true self to be accepted, growing up quickly because you are forced to deal with adult things... There are two great examples of kids being aware of what they need to do to survive.

7) Do (or how do) these digital stories support a healthy respect for multiculturalism and diversity?

I think these stories do show support and respect for multiculturalism and diversity. There are kids from, what appears to be, well off families; nice house, nice clothes, educated. And there are also kids from not so great off families; divorce, homelessness, uneducated parents, not having an income. These videos show a great range of people with an even greater range of messages that they are using to tell their stories.