I learned so much from completing this project. Most importantly to me, having these conversations with my friends was incredibly eye opening and brought a new level of connection to these relationships. My friends had stories to tell, but we had never been in a context where these conversations on trauma could be explored in depth. The six individuals I interviewed are not people who usually feel comfortable talking about themselves, an altruistic characteristic that is a big reason I hadn't heard these stories before. 

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I think another reason, as I mentioned before, is that in general we tend to suppress our traumatic experiences instead of sharing them. I understand the fear that drives us to suppression, but I also understand the freedom that comes with being able to share your story and talk it through with those who care about you. In an article sent to me by a friend entitled The Silence writer Junot Diaz details his own personal battle with suppression of traumatic memories, eventually succeeding and stating "Every year, I feel less like the dead, more a part of the living."

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That is why I decided on this project. Because I never want myself or anyone else to feel alone in their experience of trauma. I want us to be willing to share and listen to more than just the good times in someone's life, but also the scary, sad, and traumatic times. In this way, it is my hope that connections can be made on deeper levels and solidarity in shared trauma can be reached. From completing this project with even a small sample of friends, I already feel this effect taking root.

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I want this collection of stories to serve as a statement towards the common experience of trauma. I firmly believe finding the connection between tragic events and larger lessons in life is vital in moving past difficult times, and I believe that by reading the stories of others and their own journey towards remedying their trauma, we can more quickly find this connection. These stories were meant to inspire you, validate you, and make you feel less alone, attributes I hope were as evident to you as they were to me in creating this project.