The Importance of Storytelling: What I've Learned Through "Dramatizing the Data"

My dad was always a storyteller, so growing up I heard plenty of tales: true, false, and especially fabricated. He told me about how my Grandmother was a witch, how he survived on canned spinach in college, and how him and his three brothers terrorized their small Pennsylvania neighborhood in the winter by instigating snowball fights with almost anyone passing by. I am mesmerized by those that are able to share a fascinating story, but it wasn't truly until this class I decided to take to fill a couple of my credits that opened my definition of storytelling.

Throughout the past approximately 10 weeks of classes, we have had the opportunity to interview 10 members of the Chattanooga community asking them a simple question: "What do you want us to know about you?" This short, simple question has taught me more life lessons than I could have ever imagined. The beauty of storytelling is that they can share an experience through a first-person primary -source point-of-view. Through these stories, I've been able to listen and empathize with experiences of trauma, abuse, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, gang involvement, imprisonment, and most importantly how these individuals overcame their unimaginable challenges resulting in contentment they hold with their lives now. By hearing about the setbacks and extraordinary perseverance, strength, and faith it took to survive through a multitude of challenges, I was taught lessons in determination and resolution I may not have learned for myself until several years from now. Through storytelling we can share unique experiences and the knowledge that resulted from those experiences, without necessarily having a first-row seat in these events.

We are now done transforming our interviewee's stories into monologues and are now preparing for our performance next month. I am excited to have the opportunity to share these beautiful stories with the Chattanooga community so they too, can learn from the wisdom of another.