What is Storytelling?
Storytelling is connecting the numbers to a face, data to a person. It helps connect with others on a human level, in a form that cannot be replaced. Your stories are not just your experiences; they are powerful tools for change.
You Are Already a Storyteller
Storytelling is the oldest form of communication. Stories have been used to share cultures, traditions, and life lessons in a more consumable manner. We’re all storytellers in some form. We’ve told stories to our family or friends so that we can connect with them; we all have a story about how we got here. Our stories have the potential to impact the lives of others and ourselves.
The Influence of Storytelling for Advocacy
When we have numbers or statistics thrown at us we can feel overwhelmed or disconnected. They have a numerical value, but there’s no human connection behind them. The recent changes to the Washington College Bound Scholarship will impact 1 in 4 students at PLU, but what does that really mean? It means your friends, roommates, and classmates are facing a loss of financial aid, putting their access to opportunity at stake. While statistics tell legislators what is happening, your unique personal story, or the story of a friend, is what moves them to action. Providing the emotional leverage needed to effectively change the legislation. By showcasing your experiences as students alongside the numbers, your narrative becomes the most powerful and memorable tool we have to influence this legislation.
The Uniqueness of Storytelling – Why Should You Tell Your Story?
No one can tell your story. No one can live your life, feel your feelings, or think your thoughts. This is something that is uniquely yours. Your lived experiences, your thoughts, your connections can help the people around you. To make meaningful change requires the bravery to be vulnerable. Vulnerability helps us connect with others like us; it creates a community we can fall back on. Telling stories from different perspectives creates a fuller picture of understanding on how this issue is impacting the PLU community. Lean on your community in sharing your story because you’re already a storyteller!
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