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< Back Mary Ann's Story, Spring 2025 00:00 / 04:11 Previous Next

D-F Stories If you'd like to listen to a story, click the"Listen" button David's Story, 2023 David talks about his experience with coming out during the 70s and 80s to his parents and how people’s perceptions of what it means to be gay was different then compared to today. He also talks about what it was like to finally be able to marry his partner Todd and what that meant to him. Listen David's Story, 2024 David shares stories of his experience with the start of the pride parade in Northampton, MA. Listen Dennis' Story, Fall 2022 After the Vietnam War and having to put his future plans on pause, Dennis found himself in the city of Boston, not New York, working in education, not pursuing his studies at law school and gaining confidence all along the way. Listen Dennis' Story, Spring 2022 In his story, Dennis Bidwell guides us through his harrowing journey applying for Conscientious Objector (CO) Status during the Vietnam War. Dennis reflect on his coming of age, the culture of the 1960's and 70's, and his experience writing "the most important essay of [his] life" Listen Diane's Story Diane talks about how her goals and ambitions are constantly changing throughout our lives. Diane and Victoria discuss how they have changed throughout lives, and what has remained constant. The common thread for both women is their strong mothers. Listen Djenabou's Story Djenabou talks with Rene about her family. She shares her exceptional relationship that she has with her sister. Listen Eden's Story In this story, Eden’s generous neighbor teaches her a valuable life lesson. The irony of this significant story is unique as the neighbor has no idea of the impact and life shaping this had on Eden. Listen Edie's Story Edie Kirk shares stories with Elise Boehm about her mother. She starts off by talking about her family’s background and her mother growing up. She then shares a story about how her mother became a nurse and shares other stories that show why she admires her mother so much. Listen Eileen's Story Eileen discusses gender roles present in her childhood in the 1950s and how it caused her to choose her career in teaching. She then goes on to talk about how she was able to be successful in her career choice. Listen Elaine's Story Listen Elise's Story Elise Boehm talks to Edie Kirk about her decision to study abroad in Cuba and what it was like once she got there. She shares stories about where she went and what she did but also how the people there made her feel more confident speaking Spanish. Listen Emily L's Story Emily discusses how her culture, once embarrassing to her, has helped her shape into the growing and caring person she is today. Listen Emily W's Story Emily W talks to Emily L about how the feminist movement has shaped her growing up and how the culture of women's liberation influenced her ideologies and life. Listen Francesca's Story Follow Francesca as she shares her spiritual journey as a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi, inspiring her devotion to uplifting others around her while spreading love. Listen Francine's Story In her interview with Carolyn, Francine reflects on her time in Denmark back when she was a junior in college. She looks back fondly at the many memories and life lessons of her host, Frau Nielsen. Fran reflects on how Frau Nielsen changed her young mind’s conception of what it means to be old. Listen Freeman's Story Freeman remarks on his decision to retire and how retiring has allowed him to grow as a person and start new things after his career. He later elaborates on the ultimate goals and appreciations he has for his life and his message for others when considering the path of their own life: “think of the long ride, not the short journey.” Listen Eddie's Story, Spring 2024 Listen Emily's Story, Spring 2024 Emily recalls taking a major risk in high school by stepping into leadership as theater troupe president and co-directing a competitive one-act play, despite uncertainty and the sacrifice of acting. Over months of creative work and personal challenges, she developed an original production with her peers, ultimately leading the team to a successful performance that won top honors and earned them an individual directing award. Just before advancing further, the competition was canceled due to COVID-19, leaving a sense of loss and disappointment. Despite this, the experience shaped her personal growth and inspired her interest in public health, reinforcing the value of community and taking risks. Listen Elsa's Story, Spring 2025 Elsa shares the story of her late grandfather, Sumner Svedeman, highlighting the lasting impact he made through the way he made people feel. She describes his calm, kind, and accepting demeanor towards everyone he encountered, which left a mark on their lives. Sumner had an innate ability to listen, making each individual feel valued and understood. His compassion was evident not just in his interactions with family and friends, but also with strangers. Through his example, Sumner taught Elsa the importance of empathy and kindness. She strives to carry forward his legacy by embodying these values in her own life, hoping to make others feel as cherished and respected as he made them feel. His memory continues to inspire her to approach the world with an open heart and a positive spirit. Listen Emily's Story, Spring 2025 Softball was more than just a game for me. It became an outlet that allowed me to stay connected with my family and form new relationships after my parents’ divorce. It was a thread that held me close to everyone during a time of change. The field became more than just a place to play; it was where I found connection, comfort, and continuity. This story is about family, relationships, and all the moments that happened between innings. Listen Doris' Story, Spring 2025 Listen Emma's Story, Spring 2025 Interviewed by Linda, Emma discusses the different types of families she grew up with. She reflects on the family she gained throughout her childhood, while also delving into some of the hardships she faced. Emma explains how her family circumstances have truly shaped the person she is today. Listen David H's Story Spring 2025 David describes how his autodidact tendencies and lifelong “obsessions” with computers, photography, biking, and astrology have shaped his relationships and sense of connection to others. Listen

< Back David H's Story Spring 2025 David describes how his autodidact tendencies and lifelong “obsessions” with computers, photography, biking, and astrology have shaped his relationships and sense of connection to others. 00:00 / 04:54 Interviewer: What obsessions have really captivated you throughout the years? David: I think I purposely like to look at them as obsessions. I mean, passion is pretty much synonymous, not 100%. But I like to look at them as obsessions because it gets people's attention. One obsession is personal computers, which I became fascinated by in 1982. And my means of obsession has always been as an autodidact, which just means self taught. auto, didact, teach. So that's what I do, I delve into learning. My passion with computers led me to leave my job and book publishing to work at a computer store. And working in the computer store was one reason why when a computer magazine was hiring, they hired me. It was just a question of following something that fascinated me. It's just a deep fascination. Interviewer: Other fascinations that you've talked about include photography. David: My father took photographs all the time. Maybe that even amplified my desire to be like him in some way. We had like boxes of photographs that my father took or other family members took. I just loved sitting down looking at all these photographs of the past, of relatives or situations. So a combination of just the objects themselves, the photographs being something that drew me in that history, that story, it was just stories being told and the fact that this was an influence, or interest I should say, of my father, who I admired. One of the things I've always loved about computing is you can try stuff without breaking anything. I always make a copy of a file if it's important and then work on the duplicate. Because you can always cover your ass, and therefore then you can experiment. And that experimenting is a form of freedom, and that, that attracts me. Interviewer: One other obsession that you talk about very fondly is biking. David: It's funny, to a degree it goes back to my father who, I just have all these memories of him, you know, doing various things with hand tools in our garage and, you know, helping me with my bike and bikes. Even by the time I was like 12, 11, 12, I had about 3, 4 bikes. Learning how to put it together. And some of the learning is feedback. When you're an autodidact, when you're self taught, you need some kind of feedback, otherwise, how are you learning? Now with these machines like cameras or computers, the feedback is built in. If it works, it's done right. If it doesn't, try to figure out why. Same thing with bicycles, although the breakage isn't protected. You also learn from experience, for example, my hand knows how tight to make something, a bolt. All my obsessions, behind them is a pleasure in learning, but a pleasure in learning outside of school. From the late 90s through 2007, I was a leader of the New York Bike Club for 10 weeks. Each year, we had, you know, 15 people and we would teach them bicycle skills. Here I mention that another obsession I've had is astrology. I got involved with astrology my sophomore year of college because I ended a relationship with my first real girlfriend. Things weren't good, and I was trying to figure out relationships. Astrology is actually a form of psychology. It's a tool for looking at the psyche. And so I became obsessed, because I was in a not good place and I wanted to figure out more. Take a few years more into the future, that was like 1969 or so. I go to a friend's house, uh, where he's having a party and he invites somebody I don't know. And that somebody I don't know brings his girlfriend who becomes my first wife. Later on, I’m talking with her and she said something about where she's lived. And I said something to her, oh, an astrologer would say something about that. And she said, oh, I'm an astrologer too.That's how Judy and I, we spent the rest of the evening describing each other to each other in astrological terms, which is almost like a language. Through astrology, was a large part of my connecting with somebody who is a soulmate. Interviewer: Are there other ways in which your obsessions have connected you to others? David: Well, here I mentioned the computing leading me to be a computer magazine editor. And there's something about a group getting together each month to put out a magazine. The group part is really important to me, working with others. If it can help me connect more with myself, it helps me connect with others. And realize that behind this thing I'm labeling as obsession is curiosity. I have a very deep curiosity. Things I love, like I mentioned bicycling or photography, I learned even more, but that's because my emotional state about it is stronger. Other things, curiosity helps me from feeling depressed. These obsessions and thoughts combined lead me to actual connections with others, and lead me to greater knowledge. Previous Next

M-O Stories If you'd like to listen to a story, click "Listen" button Marci's Story Dr. Marci Yoss talks to her new friend Camille Beckett (21) about her family, profession, and loneliness. Marci delves into the importance of her husband and children within her life, discusses how the medical field as positively impacted her, and how loneliness had changed as a concept in her life as she has aged. Listen Marcia's Story Marcia explains how the simple act of being friendly and saying hi dramatically changed her world and formed life long relationships in the summer of 1968. Listen Mary's Story Mary Young describes, in an interview with Hellen Muma, the cast-off treasures she discovered as a kid—and how those experiences turned her into a life-long collector. She shares a lesson learned from Louis Armstrong’s white handkerchief and remembers a great-aunt who influenced her with the gift of a corrugated gift box. Listen Mary Ann's Story Mary Ann recounts her childhood growing up in rural Connecticut and goes on to share the powerful act of kindness her paternal grandfather did for her which was teaching her to drive. She expresses how this act impacted her confidence and gave her a new sense of freedom. Listen MaryBeth's Story Marybeth tells the story about her first time being intimate with her partner while attending college. She goes on to explain the journey of her pregnancy and reconnecting with her daughter years later. Listen Marylou's Story Marylou Davis (76) talks with her granddaughter, Abigail Horan (21) about the pivotal moments in her life which sculpted the path to the life she has today. In the interview, Marylou discusses how moving from Florida back to Massachusetts where she originally lived was a tough decision, but ultimately worked out in the end because of the relationships she fostered once arriving back. Listen McKenna's Story McKenna describes her love of gymnastics in this story. The lessons it taught her and the people she met along the way are invaluable to her, and she will carry these lessons with her throughout the rest of her life. Listen Megan's Story Megan (20) tells a story about the most important person in her life, her grandfather “Poppy”. She talks about a road trip to his log cabin in Vermont, the many stops on the way, and their special relationship. Listen Meredith's Story Listen Miriam's Story Miriam describes her experience studying the Hutterite community. She reflects on their sense of community and how it has been shown in her own life. Listen MJ's Story In this interview, Mary Jo discusses her experience with assistive technology like a cochlear impact and electronic captioning. She describes her journey and how sudden hearing loss has influenced her as an individual, her relationships and her outlook on life. She leaves us with a powerful message about the importance of advocating for ourselves and others. Listen Naomi's Story Naomi talks about her experiences growing up and about how these experiences shaped her approach to parenting and helped her understand what she truly values in her relationships. Listen Ngozi's Story Ngozi Okeke talks to Tamar Shadur about traveling to Nigeria, dad's special pancakes, and how she would like to be remembered. Listen Nikki's Story Nikki describes her travels to Manzanillo Cuba where she and her fellow volunteers created and conducted a Kids Camp for the children of Manzanillo and its surrounding villages. She expresses the importance of perspective taking, treating others with compassion and understanding the true impact one seemingly small act can have on the lives of others. Listen Nina's Story Nina Kleinberg tells Liya Liang the story about the moment she decided to leave her home and STEM education to pursue an education and career in film on the other side of the country Listen Norma's Story Norma talks about how she found herself in the later stages of life identifying with something new- being an athlete. She talks about the skills she has acquired through this sport apply on the water and in her personal life as well. Listen to Norma’s journey to discovering one of her new passions of whitewater kayaking. Listen Obi's Story Obi discusses the influence of one teacher in his life, and how that teacher influenced not only his future career goals, but also his work ethic. Listen Olivia's Story Listen to hear Olivia share her experience taking a gap year after highschool and traveling overseas with a program called ARCC Gap Year. Listen Owen's Story, 2022 Owen discusses how he went to college during the Vietnam War and what he learned from not only the education and the professors but also the people he attended the university with. Listen Owen's Story, 2024 Listen Morgan's Story, Spring 2024 Morgan describes how the pandemic disrupted her Junior year of high school, but ultimately led her to new friendships, a major she loves, and a path towards a future in medicine inspired by her mom. Listen Mary's Story, Spring 2025 Mary, motivated by her retirement and the loss of her husband's sister, decided to run a breast cancer marathon in Jacksonville, Florida, which was something she’d never done before. She trained in Antigua, and when her race day approached, her husband warmly rallied up her nieces, daughter, and grandchildren to cheer her on with signs and bells, which gave her the final push to be able to push through to the finish line. She felt an intense sense of pride and joy crossing it, and it made the whole moment even more memorable and sweet, having her whole family beside her to celebrate. As she’s now approaching her 80s, she has sight of winning her age group in the half-marathon and running a 10k alongside her granddaughter. Listen Molly's Story, Spring 2025 Molly shares her unique journey through motherhood, detailing her experiences with her wife and their two adopted children. She describes her travels around the world and her struggles with infertility, which ultimately led to the beautiful story of adopting her two children. Molly reflects on how her children grew up in Boston and thrived right before her eyes. Listen Nancy's Story, Spring 2025 After our mother died suddenly (due to complications of a childhood disease), our introverted father stepped in to raise three daughters (ages 14, 11, and 7) in the New Jersey suburbs. He was at work in Manhattan all day, but he ran a tight ship from afar. His steadfast devotion to us and his love of Broadway shows, the Great American Songbook, and American literature continues to supply me with uplifting lyrics, music, and other cultural touchstones. Listen Owen's Story, Spring 2025 Owen describes how becoming a single parent forced him to confront complex feelings of frustration towards his son, and how overcoming these feelings led to their strong friendship today. Listen Nancy J's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Natalie's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Meredith's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Marisa's Story, Spring 2025 Marisa shares how her mother’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent passing profoundly influenced her life and career aspirations. Witnessing her strength and the care provided by nurses inspired her to pursue nursing, initially through fundraising and advocacy, then by formally studying healthcare. Though faced with challenges in transferring and entering a nursing program, Marisa used the opportunity to study kinesiology and public health, gaining foundational skills for her future practice. Now preparing to enter an accelerated nursing program, she is committed to providing compassionate care in honor of her mother’s legacy. Listen Nina's Story, Spring 2025 Nina describes how being diagnosed with ADHD as a child led to academic struggles and rejection, but pushing through those setbacks helped her become resilient and confident in the person she’s become. Listen Noleen's Story, Spring 2025 Noleen describes her and her family’s migration from Ghana to the U.S., navigating constant transitions before finally settling in Massachusetts. Listen Mary Ann's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Makeda's Story, Fall 2025 Listen Mary Ann's Story, Fall 2025 Mary Ann reflects on a life shaped by early loss and resilience, following the sudden death of her father, which forced her family to quickly adapt and develop survival skills. Despite financial challenges, she earned scholarships to Brown University and Yale, ultimately training as a biology teacher. A pivotal moment came when her future husband encouraged her to pursue a long-held but unimagined dream of becoming a doctor, leading to a career as a pulmonologist and radiation oncologist. Today, she looks back on a rich, unexpected life filled with family, professional accomplishments, and personal fulfillment, appreciating the support and opportunities that helped shape her journey. Listen Moeen's Story, Fall 2025 Listen Molly's Story, Fall 2025 Listen Owen's Story, Spring 2025 Owen reflects on the things he’d tell his younger self, emphasizing how life doesn’t always go as planned. Highlighting that family is important, staying open to the unknown, and keeping a positive perspective during difficult times. He shares his own experience with marriage, parenthood, and how even those struggles led him to have a deep and close friendship with his son. Listen

< Back Mary Ann's Story, Fall 2025 Mary Ann reflects on a life shaped by early loss and resilience, following the sudden death of her father, which forced her family to quickly adapt and develop survival skills. Despite financial challenges, she earned scholarships to Brown University and Yale, ultimately training as a biology teacher. A pivotal moment came when her future husband encouraged her to pursue a long-held but unimagined dream of becoming a doctor, leading to a career as a pulmonologist and radiation oncologist. Today, she looks back on a rich, unexpected life filled with family, professional accomplishments, and personal fulfillment, appreciating the support and opportunities that helped shape her journey. 00:00 / 04:13 When I was growing up as a child, I really didn't have any idea of what my life was going to be like; I really didn't imagine that. My family didn't have a lot of money, and there was no family business or, you know, career pathway that I might have been expected to follow. No one was really asking me what I was going to be when I grew up. But, um, I think what really sort of derailed any thoughts that I might have had about my future life was my father dying suddenly several days after his 48th birthday. His death was certainly nothing my mother, my younger brother, and I were prepared for. Uh, there was no money, and my mother had never learned to drive, so the next few years, we were learning survival skills, including driving lessons for me and for my mother. And then my mother went back to work as a nurse, although she hadn't done any nursing for over 16 years. Um, so my main task, though, was applying for colleges that would offer me full scholarships. So, I've been a good student, and I was very fortunate that I ended up going to Brown University on a scholarship. Um, during the summers, I worked as a waitress, which is where I first met Ralph, who eventually became my husband. During college, it was sort of like, let's get through four years and then figure out what we're going to do. Um, teaching seem to be a good thing, and I thought I could probably do that pretty well. So, I ended up getting a full scholarship at Yale, and I did a Master of Arts in Teaching there, and I trained to be a biology teacher. And then my very first job ended up being here in Massachusetts, in Brookline, at a public school that was very progressive and very innovative. So, Ralph and I stayed in touch during our college years, and when he was in Senegal, in West Africa, in the Peace Corps. Um, so when he came back to the US, we reconnected, we fell in love, we got engaged, and married. And then we started our life together on Long Island, and we were both teaching there. So one day, we were coming back from a weekend ski trip, someplace up in Vermont, and I was complaining about getting bored grading 125 biology lab reports every week. So, Ralph said, “Is there something else you like to do?” So, I told him, “I would like to be a doctor,” and he said, “Well, why don't you do it?” Um, I really didn't expect that at all because as a kid and a teenager, even though I spent time in hospitals, um, I had never really wanted to be a nurse. But, becoming a doctor was something that I had never even dared, um, imagine. So, I wouldn't have gone any further without Ralph’s support. So, I went to medical school at New York Medical College. Later on, I became a pulmonologist and then a radiation oncologist, and I worked at several medical centers on Long Island. And then I received a job offer here in Springfield. So, I worked in Springfield for 27 years, and then I retired from medicine around nine years ago. So, when I think about my life growing up, becoming a doctor was something I never could have imagined as a child. Um, it definitely wouldn't have happened without Ralph’s support, and his willingness to go where I wanted to be or where my work required has been a gift that really exceeds any value. Um, I could never growing up, I could never imagine having a husband, a daughter, a son-in-law, and now we have a wonderful grandson named Avery who just turned two years old a couple of weeks ago. So, um, I've gotten to have a very rich, complicated life that I never could have imagined at 5 years old or at 16 or 25 or 30 or 75, and now, after 80 years, um, it’s still amazing me now. Previous Next

J-L Stories If you'd like to listen to a story, click "Listen" button Jacqueline's Story Jacqueline talks about the most important person in her life; her mom. She describes her perseverance, strength, and love for both her mother and her brother. Listen Jake's Story Jake reflects on two similar scenarios he has encountered with bees and how that has made him realize the power of one’s own mindset when it comes to handling situations differently. He talks about how he keeps a positive mindset which has translated into looking at things in a more gratifying way and spreading positivity in other aspects of his life. Listen Janet's Story Janet gives voice to her late older brother Jay and recalls the significant impact he has had on her early life and professional career despite struggling in his adolescence and growing up in a time where it was unlawful to be self assured about your homosexuality. This is a story about love and loss but touching upon hope in freedom of self expression in culture today. Listen Janice's Story In this story, Janice explains her life long connection to animals and how her experiences working with animals have become her most fulfilling achievements. Listen Jesse's Story, 2021 Jesse shares a story with Kelly about his trip to Bhutan and the lessons helearned from his Buddhist practice. Listen Jesse's Story, 2022 Jesse talks with Lauren about being wrongfully accused and sent to prison. He shares the lessons he learned during that difficult time. Listen Jim's Story This story is about Jim and his father going on a fishing trip where they catch the elusive Black Marlin. Though the bond of their relationship had been frayed, their fishing adventure forged an understanding that would leave Jim changed forever. Listen Joan A's Story Listen to Joan as she talks about her Auntie Delly and the role her Aunt played in shaping Joan's life in the past and the present. Listen Joan O's Story Joan shares the story of adopting her daughter from Russia. She talks about what adoption is like and some of the struggles that come with adoption. Listen JoAnn's Story Listen Jonathan's Story, 2021 Jonathan talks with Julia about the importance of his family network during the pandemic. Likewise, he is thankful for social media and zoom technology because it enabled him to stay in touch with his family. Listen Jonathan's Story, 2022 Jonathan Daube (Northampton, MA) speaks with Selena DeCosta (Easton/Amherst, MA) about his time spent teaching in Malawi and how it shaped his view of the world for the rest of his life. Listen Jonathan's Story, 2024 Listen Jonathan Dee's Story Jonathan shares his special connection with his family and how they have been a major influence in his life, from his brothers to his mom and dad. He touches upon his love for his parents supporting him through sports and making sure he was reaching his fullest potential growing up. With deep gratitude for his mother and everything she had overcome in her early life, he expresses the kind of person and a great appreciation of who she is. Listen Josh's Story Josh shares his dedication and identity to football at college and wanting to succeed in his athletic career, only to realize that it was taking him away from his academics. When Covid hit, which was brought with a year spent at home, he decided to change his focus from football towards his studies on Public Health. Leaving your past self may be hard, but it’s the sacrifice to limitless possibilities. Listen Judy's Story Jessica interviews Judy about her relationship with her mother, delving into Judy's past through letters exchanged between them from childhood to adulthood. As Judy revisits these correspondences, she navigates the highs and lows of their relationship, exploring the deep bond between mother and daughter. Listen Juli's Story Juli speaks with Jacqueline about her time at summer camp as a kid. At this camp, Juli met someone who didn’t fit in. But Juli learned how a little kindness could go a long way. Listen Julia's Story Julia reflects on what her life might look like in sixty years. She explains her values and emphasis on how she strives to be someone her family and others can lean on. Listen Kaela's Story Kaela expresses how running has been a fundamental part of her life since she was younger but has really unfolded for her as she was in high school and college to something she really loves to do. Over the years, her relationship with running and the community she has formed with it has grown into something that holds a special place for her to continue wherever she ends up in the future. Listen Katherine's Story Katherine talks about her family heritage and values and how that impacted her views on the world. She discusses how her upbringing and playing music with her siblings brings them closer together. Katherine also details how the values that she was raised with are still instilled in her and are instilled in her children as well. Listen Kathleen Becker's Story Kathleen describes her path to becoming a speech pathologist. She describes her experience growing up with her younger sister Margaret Mary who was born with cerebral palsy. As a child she tried to find ways to help her sister learn to speak. Later, she took her first speech pathology course in college, and went on to work in a private practice and at an elementary school. Listen Kathleen Bowen's Story Kathleen talks about changes and how her perspective of age and learning has changed over time through her own experience with getting older. Listen Kelly's Story Kelly talks with Jesse about her evolving family dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen Laura's Story In this story, Laura reflects on her connection to modern dance and how it has followed her throughout her life. Listen Leslie's Story In this clip, Leslie shares her passion for improving the quality of life for people with disabilities with a specific focus on young children and families. Listen Liam's Story Liam talks about a scene in the movie Tampopo and discusses the differences in how people consume media and how media can be interpreted differently depending on the viewer. Listen Liya's Story Liya Liang speaks with Nina Kleinberg about her experiences attending a preparatory boarding school and leaving all she knew behind. The two discuss the effects that it had on her life reflecting on the aspects of race, class, and socioeconomic status had on her experience during her four years. Listen Luke's Story Luke shares a story about his uncle Peter who is a Carthuegen Monk in Slovenia. He talks about his personal relationship with Peter and how Peter inspires him in his own life. Listen Janice H's Story Janice tells a story about a memorable photograph she took while visiting a village in Liberia, Africa. The story is a snapshot of the Liberian bush in 1972. Listen Kathleen's Story Listen Katerina's Story, Spring 2024 Katerina’s reflection on how repeated experiences with her father’s and uncles’ cancer shaped her relationship with guilt, grief, and appreciating life. Listen Lizzy's Story, Spring 2024 Lizzy reflects on her journey from hating school as a child due to struggles with confusing curriculum changes and being doubted by educators to gradually finding her footing academically. After being told college might not be the right path, she used that doubt as motivation to prove her capabilities. Although her first semester in college was challenging, discovering public health (specifically epidemiology) transformed her perspective and made learning enjoyable. Now accepted into a master’s program in epidemiology, she feels proud of how far she’s come and how she turned skepticism into success. Listen Jessica's Story, Spring 2024 Listen Jesse's Story, Spring 2025 Jesse’s visit to an Ashram for her friend turned out to be a life-changing experience. She had witnessed what she described as golden filaments of light connecting people in a garden, which, when she came back home, made her feel alive, and she found herself drawn toward this community for several years. While still being a little skeptical, she learned to try and approach the most painful moments of life with love, which shifted her attitude, and she gives credit to this, making her a happier individual. Around this time, another eventful program, she experienced, Al-Anon, which is a twelve-step program which is for families of those struggling with alcohol addiction, which was the case with her then husband. This pushed her to untangle herself from codependency and understand herself for the first time. These two experiences together taught her essential lessons about letting things go that aren’t in her control and focusing on present things with good energy is what lightens the weight of being yourself. Listen Linda's Story, Spring 2025 Linda discusses the various relationships with people she calls family. Some are blood-related, while others are connected through the deep bonds she has built over time. She explores the uniqueness of her familial circumstances and reflects on how these relationships have impacted not only the love she has experienced over the years, but also how these experiences and connections have shaped her into the person she is today. Listen Joe's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Lexie's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Kathy's Story, Spring 2025 Kathy reflects on her journey to becoming a nurse practitioner, shaped by early aspirations to be a doctor and barriers such as her father’s belief that higher education wasn’t necessary for girls. Despite challenges, she pursued nursing, continued her education, and eventually entered a nurse practitioner program with encouragement from mentors. Her career focused on working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, where she found purpose in serving marginalized populations and navigating the complexities of real-world care. Looking back, she feels deeply fulfilled and proud of her path, valuing both the impact of her work and the personal growth it brought. Listen Katie's Story, Spring 2025 Katie reflects on several influential “teachers,” including authors, spiritual leaders, and educators, who shaped her personal growth. Inspired by ideas like living in the present moment, mindfulness, and self-compassion, she learned to better support herself emotionally and break patterns from her upbringing. She also gained insight into communication, particularly the importance of understanding underlying human needs beneath emotions. Overall, these influences have helped her grow, improve relationships, and approach life with greater awareness and purpose. Listen Linda's Story, Fall 2025 Listen Kathryn's Story, Fall 2025 Listen Jenna's Story, Fall 2025 Listen Lynn's Story, Fall 2025 Listen

< Back Kathy's Story, Spring 2025 Kathy reflects on her journey to becoming a nurse practitioner, shaped by early aspirations to be a doctor and barriers such as her father’s belief that higher education wasn’t necessary for girls. Despite challenges, she pursued nursing, continued her education, and eventually entered a nurse practitioner program with encouragement from mentors. Her career focused on working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, where she found purpose in serving marginalized populations and navigating the complexities of real-world care. Looking back, she feels deeply fulfilled and proud of her path, valuing both the impact of her work and the personal growth it brought. 00:00 / 03:15 I'm a Nurse Practitioner, and the majority of my career has been with people with intellectual disabilities and then an aging. When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a doctor, and I don't even know why that was. I have two uncles that are doctors, so I was set to be a pediatrician. I mean, they encourage me, but my father at the time thought education was wasted on girls. I mean, I was encouraged to go on, you know, for things either pre-med or, you know, going to the nursing for UMass, you know, program. And, but my dad, you know, because it was okay, my uncle's gonna keep an eye on me in the Pittsfield area. It was a three-year program in Pittsfield, and then I was working in a hospital. And then when my first husband was going to UMass, we moved back here now. So the minute I graduated from Saint Luke School nursing, I started at different community colleges, taking courses, and I had ended up going to Elms College and get my baccalaureate. I worked at Belchtown State School. It was people with intellectual disabilities. And I knew I wanted to stay in nursing and do something. And I, you know, not that I didn't want to teach, but I wanted to go into a little bit more some kind of clinical nursing. And I knew about the nurse practitioner program. So at the time, the first year when I was at the state school, they would send people to PNP program. And back then, it wasn't even a college; it was a “continuing ed program.” The first year I put in for, they didn't accept me. So the next year, the man who was my boss at the time, he encouraged me to go. And of course, everybody was saying, “Oh, she's part of the agreement when they sent you to school with you, you have to work for the state for a year after.” And I was committed to doing that because somebody believed in me. So I started, and I worked. I've worked with people with intellectual disabilities. As an NP, there's something about you make a difference, you know, especially when you work with marginalized, or people that are typically devalued. And it was really, it was really an eye opener. And as an NP, I could just do about anything there because the Doc, he was glad to have me do the work. And I was, I was relishing doing the work, you know, trying to figure things out. And I learned a lot, especially in real life, where it's complicated. It's not like what the books say to you, you know, it's really complicated. And I can remember that was in my nursing, basic nursing and was really difficult. And, but, you know, you persist, and you're right, your classmates and people are really good, they can be, and there's something about the camaraderie of being together in the same boat. But, you know, I, that's why I really like people's stories and spending time and being in the moment with people. But, you know, there's something about being there and learning and stuff that I learned was just, oh, it's just made me much more critical thinker. But now, you know, retrospectively, I'm so glad I'm a nurse. I am so happy I'm a nurse, you know, and what I hear for, you know, primary care and specialists, it's, it's a crazy world out there. It's just difficult. In fact, a lot of people say, you know, I come up and, you know, I'm not afraid to approach difficult situations. But you really, I mean, I, I love being a nurse. Previous Next

< Back Owen's Story, Spring 2025 Owen describes how becoming a single parent forced him to confront complex feelings of frustration towards his son, and how overcoming these feelings led to their strong friendship today. 00:00 / 04:15 One of the things I did that I never figured I would do was I became a single parent. I have one son in his early 40s. When he was in kindergarten, his mother got sick and basically was incapable of taking care of him. So I had to do that and I had to get him up, get him to school, then I go to work and I bring him home from school. I make him dinner, his mother dinner, rinse and repeat. And as he got older, I did it more. Finally, his mother and I divorced. I basically got custody of him and it was very difficult, because he was very difficult. He was very upset and angry at his situation. He did understand his mother's illness was a problem, but at the same time, he had a propensity to get himself into trouble. He would sometimes claim that he was getting himself into trouble so that I and his mother would be back together again. That wasn't gonna be the case. I had to be a combination of mother and father. I still had a full time, very demanding job. I had a huge amount of frustration and anger that I think was pointed towards him, because he didn't let me live the life that I wanted to live. Usually, when you get married and have kids, you figure everybody, you know, takes their turn at doing stuff. And when one person has to do all the stuff, you gotta blame it on somebody. I was angry at him. I was angry at him for quite a while. And one day, an episode happened, I yelled at him, which I did on a regular basis when I got frustrated. I realized at that point that it wasn't him I was angry at. I was angry at the situation. And it wasn't the right thing for me to take it out on him. And that was one of those aha moments, one of those things where I grew up, um, sort of proud of the fact, if you will, that I grew up at that moment. I stopped yelling at him. He was surprised. You know, you could see in his, you know, when I catch him with something or doing something, you could see that look in his eye. Okay, here it comes. Dad's gonna yell at me. And I didn't yell. It was like, he was very confused. And after a while, I just told him, I'm not gonna yell at you anymore. I said, I'm just gonna talk to you. Like I said, it took him a while to accept that as a reality. Being a single dad takes a lot of emotional energy and that doesn't leave you much time to have emotional energy to go out and find somebody else to share it with. There was another bit of anger and frustration, if you will. By my understanding that this is what was happening and, you know, I was very unhappy about it. But again, I was able to realize that it wasn't his fault. It was the situation we were in. Over the course of a number of years, we became good friends, which is interesting cause sometimes people look at their parents as their parents and other people can look at their parents as their parents and their friend. You know, as he got older and he started to try to be out on his own, it didn't always work. Sometimes he came back, you know, we talked a lot. I gave him advice. One of the things he taught me was that even if he doesn't do what I suggest that he does, he listens to me. Again, to me, that was a success because I was able to build a relationship with him that allowed him to communicate with me. So we communicate with each other and he would take that in as a piece of data when he made the decision about what he should do and what he shouldn’t do. Now, you know, he's 47 years old, he's married, he's got kids, he's got a dog, he's got a house, he's got a job. You know, we're still friends, we still talk. He will sometimes call me and say, hey, dad, I have this situation. What do you think? And it could be something to do with work, it could be something to do with a personal relationship, something to do with finances. Like I said, he doesn't always do what I suggest, but he listens. And that makes me feel real good that I was able to have that relationship, build that relationship and keep the relationship. In part because I've met so many people when I ask them about where they came from and their parents, and they say, oh, my parents were total basket cases. And, you know, this one was an alcoholic and this one was this, this one was never around, this one was terrible. I'm thinking, how lucky my son is that he has a good dad. And I'm very proud of that. Previous Next

< Back Sophy's Story, Fall 2025 Sophy recalls a dramatic encounter with a ghost in her Brooklyn apartment that left a lasting impact on her life. 00:00 / 04:38 Interviewer: I wanted to ask you about a story that you have that's affected you in some way. Sophy: And I've come up with one that happened to me when I was 28, and I had just moved to Brooklyn Heights, New York, with my husband and two little children. And that I say, little children, I mean, they were really little. Sarah was maybe two, and Molly was just a baby. And so, I'm a young mother not knowing what I'm doing, taking care of two babies. And we have this beautiful apartment in Brooklyn looking out over the Statue of Liberty. It has a walnut paneled bedroom, a little dressing room for me, huge bedroom for the two girls. And it's just gorgeous. We had hardly moved to this apartment from Washington when David, my husband, who is working for the New York Times, and he sent out on some assignment someplace, leaving me the second day that we're there to make my own way. One night, it's about 10 o'clock at night and I was sitting in the little dressing room making a dress for my little girl, Sarah. So I'm working on the sewing machine, making this little bitty dress, and all of a sudden I had this sense that there's someone, have you had that? Where you feel that there's someone in the room, and you look up and there isn't anyone at all. I looked up, and there was a man standing in the doorway. Only I could see through him. There were three things that I knew about him: that he was good, that he was troubled, and that he was not going to hurt me, exactly. But he's not supposed to be there. He's a ghost. And I turned my back, and I thought, okay, I've been alone too long. I'm going bananas. So I'm sitting there like this, with my head in my hands. And he walked up behind me. I couldn't see him, but I knew that he was walking up behind me. And he put his hand on my shoulder like this, and his hand was cold as dry ice. I burst out and sweat. I knew that his hand on my shoulder intended to comfort me. And then he went away, and suddenly thought he's gone to see the children in their room. And I shot out into the little hallway before you get to the children's room. And then I stopped. I could not go in the children's room. It was as if there was a hand at my chest. And then I walked into my bedroom, and he appears on the window seat looking at me. I decided I had to take command of this situation. And I said to him, “I don't know who you are, but you are welcome to stay in this house with us. But I want you to know that I love this apartment, and you are not to do any harm to it whatsoever. If I find that you have hurt this apartment, I will exorcise you immediately. If you're going to stay, your job will be to take care of my children and make sure that nothing happens to them. If you agree to these terms, you can stay, and if you can't, then you have to go away.” He listened to me very gravely. And then he got up, and he walked past me and down the stairs into the kitchen and out the back kitchen door. But he was showing me, I think, that he wasn't going to stay. And the minute that he was gone, I felt totally myself again. I thought, now that was really queer. I checked the children, and they're fine. And I went back into my, back to the sewing machine. And just then the telephone rings. It was my landlady, Mrs. Glass. And she said, I just can't stop thinking about you in that apartment and about my husband and how much he loved that apartment. He was a gynecologist, and his offices were in the basement of the Brownstone. We had the two floors, and they rented the two floors above that. And his special little room was the drawing room, the little dressing room on the other side. And I didn't tell her that I had just seen him. I've thought about it a lot. He's not the only ghost I've seen. I've seen many, many, many ghosts, but that was the first one that I saw, and the most dramatic for me, who didn't know what I believed about God or life after death or any of it. But I, it's always been on my heart that I didn't tell her that I'd seen him. If I had to do it over again, I would have. But that moment with that ghost did change my life. Previous Next

S-U Stories If you'd like to listen to a story, click "Listen" button Saddaf's Story Saddaf talks about the role religion played in her life growing up and now, discovering it for herself, she talks about how she struggles with it in college. She touches upon navigating two identities being a first-generation Pakistani Muslim American. Listen Sally's Story Sally talks with Mia about her role in creating the first public library in the township where she lived and the impact it has had on her life. "Libraries always remind me that there are good things in this world." - Lauren Ward Listen Sam's Story In this story, Sam discusses her passion for women's health through her own life experiences. Sam's college experience has allowed her to surround herself with groups of people who lift up and support one another. Listen Samantha's Story Samantha talks about her childhood and her appreciation for her Jewish heritage and her understanding of her family history and how it shaped her experiences through life and helped her to face her toughest challenges. Listen Sanjana's Story Sanjana discusses her relationship with her mother and how it has changed over time. She talks about her upbringing in an immigrant family, and how understanding those circumstances helped her understand her mother’s lived experiences, bringing them infinitely closer. Listen Sasha's Story Sasha talks about her relationship with her Aunt and how she inspired her to be strong, powerful, and resilient and to appreciate the values that they share. Listen Savannah's Story Savannah speaks with Dennis about her experience living and working in Washington, DC the summer after her freshman year of college. Savannah discusses her determination to experience somewhere new, and how she was able to make it happen for herself. In her story, she touches on themes of loneliness, independence, family and friendship. Savannah reminds us that while independence is a virtue, we can all use some support to get where we're going. Listen Sean's Story Sean talks to his match about the differences between them and their values caused by the differences in their cultures and generations. He also discusses the impact of American values and how media and modern technology play a role in individualism. Listen Selena's Story Selena speaks with Jonathan about what it’s like to be living with a family whose views are very different from your own during a global pandemic. Listen Sharon's Story Sharon shares about the influence that her hardworking, loving grandmother had on her and how this influence guided her to be the person she is today. Listen Sofie's Story Sofie talks about her experience being diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 12 and how it affected her and her family. She discusses how it inspired her to pursue her future career and the importance of empathy in the medical field. Listen Sophia's Story, Spring 2024 Sophia reflects on her difficult high school experience after transferring schools, which led to isolation, academic struggles, and severe depression. Over time, this culminated in a crisis during junior year, but support from counselors, teachers, and an alternative program director helped her begin to recover. Through patience, understanding, and gradual progress, she regained hope and was able to successfully graduate on time. Ultimately, the experience taught her the importance of accepting support from others and recognizing her own resilience. Listen Stefanie's Story Stefanie discusses how COVID-19 affected her college experience as a student athlete. As well as the impact that quarantine had on her social life as an incoming college student. Listen Stephanie's Story In this story, Stephanie discusses one of her professors. Even if they didn’t always see eye-to-eye, Stephanie greatly valued their presence in her life, as well as their advice. Their mentorship will stay with her throughout her life. Listen Sunny's Story Sunny shares a story about how her relationship with the fine arts has developed and strengthened over the course of her life. She has a passion for art that follows her everywhere. Listen Susan's Story Susan Martins (77) talks with a friend, Catherine Grella (21) about her travels to Italy and Israel in her early 20s, which she considers the highlight of her entire life. Listen Susy's Story, 2021 Susy’s adventurous, independent lifestyle quickly transitioned into a nurturing one when she found herself longing for a baby. After adopting her son from Peru, she instantly knew she had made the right choice. Listen Susy's Story, 2022 Susy talks about her want for a child and how it led her to her experience with international adoption in Peru as a single woman. She discussed the impact of negative cultural views on adoption and how it impacted her experience as a parent. She then discusses the importance of belonging and the need for people to share their stories. Listen Talia's Story Talia talks to Charlie about her experience of studying abroad in Florence, Italy. She speaks about how she chose Florence as her host city. She tells us how studying abroad in Florence changed her and furthered her desire to travel the world. Listen Tamar's Story Tamar Shadur talks to Ngozi Okeke about how she would like to be remembered through the different ways in which she lived her life. She discusses her artistic passion for tapestry weaving and how it became a lifelong career. She was able to emphasize the different themes that have come out in her work and how she and her Mother have worked together to produce meaningful pieces. Listen Taylor's Story Taylor talks about transitioning into UMass as a transfer student and finding her passion for Public Health. She found that public health captures all the things she loves including caring for others. Listen Terry's Story Listen Tony's Story Tony reflects on his working relationship with the reknowned American storyteller Studs Terkel. Studs was best known for his oral history books, in which he interviewed ordinary people about their lives and experiences. Tony worked closely with Studs and provides great insight on how important their work was. Everybody has a story to tell- Tony and Studs were instrumental in documenting these stories for decades. Listen Sydney's Story, Spring 2024 Sydney talks about how years of transferring soccer teams, feeling excluded, and losing confidence shaped her anxiety, and how she’s now working to rebuild her sense of self in college. Listen Taylor's Story, Spring 2024 Listen Sophy's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Sally's Story, Spring 2025 This is the story of my grandmother, a woman who continues to inspire me every day. She has played a vital role in my life, raising me with care, guiding my path, and shaping who I am. Her unwavering dedication, deep compassion, and strength deserve to be recognized. Through her passion and perseverance, she has become not only a role model to me but a symbol of selfless love and resilience. Listen Stephanie's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Sophy's Story, Fall 2025 Sophy recalls a dramatic encounter with a ghost in her Brooklyn apartment that left a lasting impact on her life. Listen Sarah's Story, Fall 2025 Listen

< Back Peter's Story, Spring 2025 Peter reflects on how one impulsive choice in college spiraled into long‑lasting anxiety and phobias, but also made him realize how his experiences can help guide others. 00:00 / 04:27 Interviewer: What is one mistake that has shaped you as a person? Peter: When I was a freshman in college, my cousin, who's a year older than me, knocked on my door at my dorm. We're at the same college, and he asked me if I wanted to get high, because he found a joint on a table, and so he, so we didn't know where it was from, or who brought it, or what was in it. And so at the time, you could actually go to jail for small amounts of marijuana. But we decided to go out in the woods behind the dorm and smoke it. And we lit it up and shared it. And we each had a couple puffs, and it was, it was quite enjoyable. And we went back to my dorm, and I kept getting higher and higher. I didn't want, you know, I was as high as I wanted to be, and I thought, maybe I should just go to bed. And so I got in bed, and I was wrestling with a giant bat. I had the bat's wings in my hands, and he had a human head, and he was kind of snapping at me, trying to bite me. And I thought, whoa, this is not, this is not enjoyable at all. And I had friends down in the floor below me, and I went to their room, and at one point, I told one of my friends, I said, “Would you watch me to make sure I don't jump out the window?” So I was terrified, and I went for a walk, and there was a green expanse where people played volleyball. So they'd worn grooves in the, in the sod, and they became this open field of graves. You know, so I basically was tripping, or hallucinating or something. But so that experience of losing control was absolutely terrifying. And, of course, you think, okay, this is permanent. I just ruined my whole life forever. And then, and so I was kind of, for the next three days, kind of fighting to get back to it. So I'm on the lookout for any possible recurrences of this. Or, you know, any kind of circumstance in which it seemed like you would lose control of yourself, terrified me. And as a result, I panicked twice and developed phobias from these panics. A phobia is not a dislike, it is fear, and you wanna control it and fight it. At one point, I was listening to an interview. There's a keyboard player for the Beatles, named Billy Preston, was talking on the radio about, um, how he stepped off the bus one day and felt filled with the spirit of the Lord and committed the rest of his life. And I, and I flipped out when I heard that radio interview. And I thought, I don't wanna be born again. I don't wanna be born again, I don’t wanna be born again. I wanna, I wanna keep my brain. I wanna be myself. I wanna, I wanna continue experiencing life the way I know. And so what that paranoia means, so you, you’re on the lookout, and you will see those threats where they don't exist. And, and so I was, I would drive down the highway, and I would notice that the telephone poles were all crosses. I thought, "Why are those telephone poles there? Who put them there to get me?” That's what a phobia is. Like, these phobias took me a while. I didn't dare tell my parents. I started seeing a therapist, like, maybe five years later. And so this would be the biggest mistake I ever made. And you look at your mistakes, you know, on the one hand, I swore off all drugs. On the other hand, I gained a problem. I told myself, okay, just drink alcohol, that's safe, and ended up developing alcoholism, so I quit that in 1996. On the other hand, this propensity to overthink and to be paranoid and to study and look and think and analyze, developed a kind of habit of mine that I've benefited from in other ways. I am who I am now because I have struggled with these things and I have overcome them. My son, I told him when he's going out to college, I warned, your psyche is a lot more fragile than you think. You know, because anxiety disorder is kind of what I had, I learned from my struggle, I should have gotten help. I told my son, there are medications that they can give you for anxiety. And I realized, your suffering has meaning, to you and to other people. And if you find the way to, to locate and take advantage of that, it will give your life meaning and make you a happier or more complete person. Now I know why it happened to me, so I could tell my son how to avoid the 10 years of suffering, whatever it was, that it took me to get past that experience, you know. And as a writer, I write all the time about, you know, what I figured out, how to help people. You know, as I, when I teach writing, I teach people, tell the story you're afraid to tell. It shapes you, your mistakes that shape you. Previous Next

P-R Stories If you'd like to listen to a story, click on "Listen" button Pam's Story Listen Pat's Story Pat speaks about her journey in Little Falls, Minnesota. Here, she went on a profound healing journey and learned the power of forgiveness. While in Little Falls she met a special friend who showed her what she had been longing for. Listen Peter's Story Listen Rachel's Story Rachel discusses feeling like she didn’t belong in her hometown community or as she transitioned to college.She talks about her social anxiety and reflects on what it was like to break free from this. She wants people to pay attention to college students’ mental health. Listen Ralph's Story When asked the difficult question of "How would you like to be remembered?" Ralph Lowen discusses the importance of love and his daughter and grandson. Listen Raluca's Story Raluca’s family immigrated to America when she was 6 years old. At first, she didn’t fully understand or appreciate her family background or Romanian culture. Most of all, she disliked her name and wanted nothing more but to change it one day. She grew up embarrassed about who she was–but after going back to her country for the first time again at 16 years old, everything changed. Listen Ray's Story In this clip, Ray discusses his journey to a love of theater and acting. Acting has taught him a great deal about life, and is a critical part of his identity. Listen Rebecca's Story Rebecca discusses the lasting influence of joining Science Olympiad in middle school on her relationships, as well as the way that it has shaped her goals and life to this day. Listen Rene's Story Rene explains how she feels being the eldest sister of her siblings. She talks through how an experience with her brother brought their relationship together. Listen Rick's Story Rick talks about his parents and how they were his lighthouses growing up. Specifically, he focuses on how a moment with his father in the hospital has guided his view on the meaning of life. Listen Robert's Story, 2022 Robert talks to Honor about his experiences living in a commune and how it saved him from serving in the Vietnam war. He explains how his faith and trust in a higher power guided him to conquer this fear, and continues to support him to this day. Listen Robert's Story, 2024 Listen Rachel's Story, Spring 2024 Rachel describes how she started college being isolated, sick, and restricted during the pandemic, and how this ultimately led her to a community she’s now grateful for. Listen Peter's Story, Spring 2025 Peter reflects on how one impulsive choice in college spiraled into long‑lasting anxiety and phobias, but also made him realize how his experiences can help guide others. Listen Rebekah's Story, Spring 2025 Listen Ralph's Story, Spring 2025 Ralph reflects on how his understanding of “home” evolved from a physical house to something much deeper and more expansive. While his house feels like home through safety, creativity, and memories, he realize that home is also found in meaningful human connections, whether on a subway, in a restaurant abroad, or within a close-knit community. Through these experiences, he came to see home as something he carry within himself, shaped by relationships, kindness, and shared moments. Ultimately, home is not a single place, but a feeling rooted in connection and belonging. Listen Raphaella's Story, Spring 2025 Raphaella encountered her science teacher, who had doubted her ability to handle honors courses. Her English teacher Miss Young though, supported her, and in the right moment as well, giving her the affirmation that she was capable of being able to take honors courses and signing off on the honors english course. This action allowed her to excel in these courses and give her confidence back within her potential. Listen Ryann's Story, Spring 2025 Ryann shares how her early love for dance was overshadowed by a highly competitive studio environment where favoritism and pressure made her feel inadequate and disconnected from her passion. Over time, this experience diminished her confidence and enjoyment, leading her to step away from dance after high school. However, upon joining a more supportive and inclusive dance program in college, a teacher helped her rediscover her confidence and love for dance. This renewed encouragement allowed her to see her potential and inspired her to pursue dance more seriously as a future career. Listen Rob's Story, Fall 2025 Listen