Unlike many adults she has not been conditioned to fear public speaking. Instead, she sees stories as gift giving. Whenever we tell kids that they were brave to speak in public, we perpetuate that attitude that this activity is something to be feared and worse yet, neglected. However, if we listen to student stories, we empower them to become capable and competent speakers. Storytelling helped me belong.
Students come to storytelling for many reasons.
Sometimes it is just comforting to be a place where you can listen or tell stories. It allows me to feel happy, put simply, it does just that. I love storytelling and there is no story that can change that. Dawn Escobar, Senior, and Chair of VOI reminds us of the value of telling stories. Teenagers need to tell stories to express how they feel.