Have you ever heard of Dear World? No? Well, allow me to enlighten you. Dear world is a project that started out with the intent to gather reactions of survivors of Hurricane Katrina through portraits, but that all changed when one man and his wife took a picture with the words “Cancer Free” written on his neck. Since then, Dear World has traveled the world gathering people’s stories in simple phrases written across the skin in these portraits. They have traveled to various university and college campuses, and most recently, the organization was doing its work at SUNY Purchase.
The students lined up, took their portraits, and shared their stories one by one. Common themes were put together from these stories collected over the brief time that Dear World was at SUNY Purchase. From these stories and according to these themes, five students and one faculty member were chosen to present their stories in the keynote presentation. I was lucky enough to be one of the students who was chosen for this momentous and memorable event.
We were called SUNY Purchase’s and Dear World’s storytellers. We were each given a brief introduction, and then our portraits were displayed while we spoke. Each storyteller had a unique and yet still familiar story to tell. You see, each story is unique because only the storyteller experienced it, but it is still a path taken that is similar to that of many other people. There were stories of molestation, sexual assault, rape encounters, suicide attempts, and coming out of the closet. Each of these stories was special to us, and despite only having a few hours notice to put together what it was that we were going to say, it all came together quite well. The entire evening of the keynote presentation was an extremely emotionally charged endeavor, and thankfully, it was met with momentous support from the attending students and faculty. At this point, I would relate the stories told at the event, but they are not my tales to tell. So, I shall leave you with this, my tale. I spoke as if I was reading a letter to my school, my home, and it is as follows:
Dear Purchase
I have had recurring suicidal thoughts since I was at least 13. I've been hospitalized for that reason five times, even though my first attempt on my life was three and half months ago.Three months ago, after I was released from the hospital, and during a four week psychiatric program, I realized why I had never fit in with other girls. I realized why I could never feel like myself when compared to other girls. I realized that I was a man. I hid this fact from most people for a while. I told some people who I knew would accept me, and my parents. But just yesterday I told everyone. I expected my deeply Christian, and southern born family to reject me. They didn't. I was met with overwhelming love and support. My granny, who had said she'd love me regardless, was the only person who objected. And even my mom, who had thought that my being a man was a phase, told her that I was still her child, that it was my life to live, and that she would never stop loving me. So, today I had proud to be me written on my arms, because I am proud that I can share who I am and not have to hide it. I am proud that I am a man. I am proud to be happy. I am proud that in three months I will start looking for hormone replacement therapy. I am proud to be forevermore known as Oliver. Most of all, I am proud that I don't have to be afraid to be me.
