vulnerABLE
Our Experience
What We Encountered
When brainstorming ideas for this project, we all realized that we have noticed an increasingly disconnected world. People are taught to rely on themselves. Independence is celebrated, and vulnerability is viewed as a weakness. We wondered if we could use this school project to encourage others to embrace their vulnerability and claim it as their greatest strength. We didn't know what to expect going into it, but the results were surprising.
What started as a school project became so much more.
We found that people were more than willing to be vulnerable when given the chance. We hope that this project sparks a conversation that needs to be had. Vulnerability allows us to let our walls down, connect, and helps us feel less isolated. Sometimes we just need to be heard.
Five college students set out and encountered vulnerability head on.
Brody Wilken
We're in this together.
As a person who works a lot in videography, I’m not used to capturing something as impactful as this project. This project gave people a chance to share their life stories with us, all while I got to sit behind the camera and listen. It was truly reassuring to hear that yes, everyone is going through something. For as long as ever, society pushes people to deal with their vulnerabilities internally. While this project might not change the world, I hope it was a baby step that helps the world open up a little more.
Here is what we experienced
Jen Maier
Until you claim vulnerability as a strength, it can be your toughest weakness.
When I first mentioned the idea of a "truth booth," I didn't think of the impact that it would make. The idea popped into my head after seeing TikTok videos of students on campuses going around asking strangers vulnerable questions.
I have always been someone who advocates for being comfortable enough to share your own story, whether that means expressing that to a friend, family member, or stranger.
The number of individuals who opened up to us was something we never could have predicted; it made me realize just how much of an impact was made.
While completing this project, I have gained so much more respect for myself, and others; as you never know what the person next to you is experiencing.
Kate Cordes
Total Perspective Shift
Going into this project, I thought it had the potential to be something special, but I was not very optimistic. I knew that if I was approached and asked to share something vulnerable on camera with strangers, I would run in the opposite direction. So, I was shocked when so many people were willing to share so many deep and intimate stories about themselves and their lives with us. I was inspired by these strangers' courage to bear themselves to us.
After talking with these strangers and doing research on vulnerability, my perspective has shifted. I am actively working to reclaim my own vulnerability as my greatest strength and I want to encourage others to do the same. It really is the best path to connection.
I now see some of our participants walking around campus, and I feel like I am connected to them. They say hi to me. That never would have happened if they didn't take a few seconds to be vulnerable.
Lexi Goeman
Gave me a new view on life
Before we began this project, I thought people would want to partake, but I didn’t quite understand the depth that people were willing to share to pick what they saw on campus. Some people were less than willing to talk about what they shared, and others were looking for someone to share their thoughts with, which was eye-opening.
Even those who didn’t want to be on camera but would write a note card would say things such as “that was so nice to get off my chest” or would ask for another card to continue to share. In our survey, most of the numbers were lower regarding how comfortable people felt sharing with people they don’t know, yet there was a good portion of people who shared despite not knowing any of us.
I think this project has turned into somewhat of a way for people to share their store but more importantly have someone who wants to listen to them.
Madysen Early
Real people, real emotions, real vulneability
When you’re standing face to face with someone telling you their insecurities, regrets and life experiences, it’s hard to remember that the camera is on. It is hard to remember this is data collection.
The reason is because these are people. Real people, with real emotions and real stories to tell. These are people no different from each other in the way that they have these thoughts bottled up, put on their cognitive reserves for the perfect moment to bring to the surface and exclaim that this is how they feel. It felt humbling to be able to provide a safe environment for our peers to not only embrace their vulnerability, but to share it with strangers in front of a camera.
By doing what we did, we allowed for the dark and emotionally-charged thoughts and experiences that people hold onto to come to the surface, reveal themselves to the lights, and in some cases gain closure. We had numerous people get emotional afterwards and disclosed that these were things they hadn’t thought much about until now. We also were thanked by each and every single participant. This meant more than they knew, because these encounters were not something to document and forget. These were connections, familiarity bonds that we created with people we likely have passed dozens of times and never truly seen.