Rattlers speak out on Humans of FAMU

Rattlers speak out on Humans of FAMU
Photo submitted by Nubian Dae Jean-Charles.

There are numerous ways in which social media influences the lives of college students. Although used mostly for entertainment, it can also create a variety of positive impacts.

One of the most commonly used social media sites, Twitter, has not only been a site used for laughter and sharing of posts but has been mainly used as an open diary to share personal thoughts and feelings.

Maya Lee, a sophomore pre-med major at FAMU from Jacksonville, started Humans of FAMU as a Twitter page created for FAMU students to share their personal stories for others to listen and to let others know that they are not alone.

Inspired by a Humans of New York post in November of 2017, Lee started a project in January of this year that would influence students to open up about personal events in their life that they may want to talk about but don’t feel comfortable sharing.

“I’ve had a person or two tell me that they’ve felt relieved telling their story because they felt like they’ve been holding it in so long. Another person I interviewed so happened to be a journalism student and said that her video helped her as a journalism major since this was her first time being interviewed,” Lee said.

Humans of FAMU is an ongoing video series where different FAMU students are interviewed about significant moments in their lives that they’re willing to share.

The topic does not necessarily have to relate to FAMU but can be on anything. Lee’s main drive is to have students share their stories without having a limit to what they’re talking about.

Humans of FAMU has recently caught the attention of FAMU students and is starting to expand around campus.

In the most recent interview, sophomore sociology major Lizzie McColly expounded on her experience in becoming socially aware and spiritually conscious.

“It was probably my junior year of high school, I was 16 and I started really noticing cases of police brutality and systemic racism,” McColly said.  “I went to a predominately white school, so a lot of people didn’t really see what I was saying, they didn’t see it as an issue, they were like, oh they probably did something wrong and that really affected me, and I didn’t feel like I had anyone to talk to.”

With Humans of FAMU, students can gain share their story with others, so that people can know who they are as a person, eventually feeling relieved and heard, while getting the support they need.

Sophomore journalism major Duanae Watson said: “I rarely get on Twitter, but at times when I am feeling down, I visit Humans of FAMU and listen to others talk about similar situations I am going through. It’s simply an inspiration to know that you are not alone.”

Humans of FAMU can be accessed on Twitter @humansoffamu and will soon be available on YouTube.

Lee hopes to keep expanding as she asks people to spread the word through retweeting, hoping students will take the project into consideration and influence others to join.