Triangle photo by Staff Photographer Maddie K. Doucet
by Britney Weber
Senior Staff Writer
My boyfriend broke up with me 2 years ago for a skinnier girl. I’ve struggled with anorexia ever since.
-Anonymous Post Secret from Frank Warren’s website postsecretarchive.com.
It started out last semester as a project for their Social Psychology class. Students were asked to created a slide show containing secrets from Frank Warren’s PostSecret website.
According to Warren’s website, PostSecret.com is a web-based “gallery of postcard-sized images posted anonymously to unveil a secret.” In other words, as Warren says on his site, these postcards are “shared confessions in art form.”
Sometimes I wonder if I have a mental illness. I don’t want to tell anyone because I’m scared my fears will be confirmed. So I don’t tell people what is going on in my head and just pretend to be as normal as I possibly can.
Now, seniors John Wang and Erica Smith and juniors Lauren Pratt and Rachel Hewitt have decided to take last semester’s project even further with their Research and Design project: Masked No More.
I often wonder if life is easier for other people, or if they are just better at faking it.
Smith said that they wanted to do a project that was similar to Frank Warren’s PostSecret website to get students talking about the secrets they hold.
“Sharing your masks is the first step in the healing process,” said Smith. “Masked No More is just getting people to think about if they even have masks they are hiding behind.”
I don’t feel beautiful anymore, because you stopped saying it.
Masked No More was designed to facilitate discussion among peers and to promote authenticity amidst the student body.
“We want students to see that they aren’t the only ones struggling with different issues. And it’s so much less intimidating sharing secrets anonymously,” said Smith.
I secretly wish to get an eating disorder so I can go out in public and not wonder why everyone is staring at me.
On Monday, April 19th at 4:45 p.m. in the Spoede Lounge, students and faculty are holding a prayer vigil to pray over the campus, asking God for healing and strength.
In James 5:13-18, James writes of the power of confessing your sins to each other and praying over one another’s struggles: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16)
Masked No More is being held April 4-14. Cards can be dropped off by the mailroom or in the bookstore. Extra cards can be found next to the drop-off boxes.
I always post deep sayings on facebook with hopes that you’ll like or comment them.
Cards will be displayed on posters in Spoede Lounge April 14-21 in an effort to encourage students by showing them they are not alone in their struggles.
“We want students to be creative with the cards and have fun with it since it will be a display,” said Smith.
I exercise to the point of collapse because I’m too scared to cut myself.
What’s my secret?
I adopt parts of other people’s personalities because I fear no one will like mine.
Reveal your mask. You might be surprised at the result.
The group’s project from last semester, a poignant music video, may be viewed here:
Italicized anonymous secrets taken from Frank Warren’s PostSecret website, postsecretarchive.com.
Tags: Erica Smith, Frank Warren, John Wang, Lauren Pratt, Masked No More, Postsecret.com, Psychology, Rachel Hewitt
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