On Thursday, Feb. 20, the Cunningham Resident Advisors and South Ruffner Staff held the annual Longwood Secrets in the Lankford Student Union Ballroom from 2-6 p.m. with people coming and going.
In case you are not aware, Longwood Secrets is an anonymous way to write down your fears and have other anonymous students write down encouraging words to help their peers.
Students write down secrets on postcards, and the cards are displayed in the ballroom of the Student Union.
Cunningham Resident Advisor Constance Garner mentioned that when it first began a couple years ago, they didn’t realize how big the turnout was going to be and were surprised at how many people came out, so they decided to try and make it an annual spring event.
“It’s a way for people to be aware,” said Garner. “If this helps people who are suffering, then we’ll continue to do it.”
The Longwood secrets were divided into different categories, including self-harm, depression, sexual assault, body image, relationships, drugs and alcohol, as well as uncategorized which were “secrets” that couldn’t fit in any of the categories.
When talking to Longwood students Emma Novak and Maria Biava, they mentioned that they like the encouraging words coming from their fellow Lancers after the anonymous secrets were posted.
“It’s refreshing to know that there are still people around here and on this campus that can help one another, instead of putting them down,” said Novak. “This is my second semester here, and my first semester actually reading the Longwood Secrets after watching the video on YouTube. I didn’t imagine that it would be this powerful.”
One secret that caught the eye of Biava stated, “I came out to my guy friends, and they don’t talk to me anymore. I can’t stop thinking about killing myself.”
Biava reacted to this secret stating, “True friends never judge one another; they’re always there to lend a helping hand. If this person’s guy friends don’t talk to him anymore, then they were never really true friends.”
Some encouraging words that could be found amongst the secrets included, “You can get through this, I’m proof; you’re not alone; stay positive, there’s always hope; it gets better and I love you.”
Many students came and went during the event, some even walking in with a big group and discussing the secrets with one another.
Another thing that could be found at the event was a pamphlet called “Secrets you should know about: when to seek help.”
“This is given to students who come in. They are more than welcomed to take it if they want to,” said Garner. “It’s given to them ... to help their peers or themselves when facing a difficult situation. We’re trying to spread awareness and help one another.”
Longwood Secrets encourages students at Longwood to always keep an eye out for one another and lend support where it is needed.
