Telling Your Story: A workshop with Kahli Ashanti

Storytelling Workshop - Day 1:

Yesterday I attended a fantastic storytelling workshop put on byPeer Giving Solutions (the programmers of the Life at Quest website). The workshop was lead by a wonderful, funny and talented man named,

Kahlil Ashanti.

Here’s the take home message from Day 1: If you don’t think that you have a story to tell, your wrong. Stop apologizing for your story and tell it anyway! Find the courage to find your voice. I have a secret for you… You have relevance, and your story matters. For those of you who think someone else’s story is better than your own, you’re wrong too! There is no one in the world like you. Yes, of course there are similar stories, but no one can tell your story like you can. Find a way to make your media matter, even if your mom is the only person who reads it! For those that think, “no one is going to listen to me”… You never know how your words are going to inspire someone else. All right, so we’re not all born storytellers. That’s okay! Start where you are, wherever that is! At least give yourself the benefit of sucking! Be real, be honest and people will respond. People don’t need Shakespeare to get them inspired; they need a story they can connect with. In the words of Kahlil, “Your biggest asset is what you already are!”

Storytelling Workshop – Day 2:

Today was the second day of the storytelling workshop put on by Peer Giving Solutions and lead by Kahlil Ashanti (I am working on getting Kahlil up to Quest to do a workshop with us. He’ll come if we invite him!)

Theme of Day Two: branding your story. Take Home Message: personalize your passion. As storytellers, we need to make people care about our story, build trust and create relationships. When we show viewers a human side, they will react in a human way. Whether that’s sharing our unique experiences, gaining exposure for an issue we care about or raising money for a cause. We are attracted to these causes for a reason. Unless people know what our personal stakes are, they aren’t going to care.

Peel back the layers that are getting in the way of you being human and having a human voice online. In the words of magic school bus teacher, Ms. Frizzle, “Get messy, make mistakes and have fun”. Life is in the mistakes. If you are not afraid, you aren’t risking enough. Be bold enough to be honest with your stories. You never know how you are going to influence people! Be brave so they can be!

Over the past week, Kahlil has been helping me craft my story. It’s a work in progress, but I am excited for the final draft. Sneak peak: it’s a story about a girl who had enough courage to walk away from her “dream” life in order to find herself. She needed to live her own life, by her rules. Her quest to re-find herself has led her on an exciting new journey at Quest University. STAY TUNED!