Story-telling has been around since people could talk. These stories often have lessons
within them, or tell people more about someone or something. Stories have the power to bring
things to life when done correctly. In my own life, story-telling has helped to shape my own
personal values.
I have told many stories throughout my life, from friends to family to movies and books.
Each of these have left an impact on who I am today. These stories have shown me who I want
to be and who I do not.
Some stories I have been told were about bad things others have done. Parents and
relatives have told me mistakes they’ve made so that I do not make the same mistakes. My
grandmother, for example, had my dad while very young. She would tell me stories of how hard
it was to raise a child at 16, which ultimately helped me realize that I do not want that life. It also
made me not judge others so hard. I realized these young women, despite the mistakes they may
have made, are trying their best and doing what they can (most of them) and that they deserve
equal respect, if not more, for being able to juggle those types of responsibilities at such a young
age.
People tell me stories about things my mother has done, and it makes me want to be
everything she is not. When I hear the things she has done, it makes me see how awful it was and
how much it affected those around her, including me. When I was young, I was not told these
stories. I knew she was not a great person, but I did not think she was that bad. In fact, during a
large argument with my dad, I considered contacting my mother and living with her. Today, after
hearing the stories, I would never even agree to see her.
Some story-telling has changed my personal opinions on topics and values overall. My
boyfriend is black. Previously, I had been fairly racist growing up, and though I had dropped
some of that, I still believed some of the things I had. When he would tell me stories about
himself and his friends, I realized my racist thinking was not okay. I had also believed that
racism in the police did not really exist. I had the mentality of “if they hadn’t done something
wrong, they wouldn’t have got shot”. After my boyfriend told me stories of encounters with
police in which he did nothing wrong, but was discriminated against, I realized that does happen
more often than I thought. I didn’t realize how racism truly even affected people until he would
tell me stories of times people called him slurs. The emotions he had when telling the stories
affected me as well, and made me change how I view things.
Other stories have shown me who I would like to be like. Stories of people doing nice
things motivates me to do the same. Hearing about people who have had great success in their
life despite obstacles made me believe I could be successful, too.
I, too, often tell stories in an attempt to relate with others. During conversations, I will tell
stories that relate to what the other is talking about. At times, I can come across like how Victor
sees Thomas in Smoke Signals. Victor often tells Thomas to shut up with the stories. While
people are not always so blunt about it, I can tell people are uninterested often, but it is the way I
best know how to hold a conversation. This often makes me choose not to say anything at all
when talking to others, because I do not know what else to say, but I do not want them to think I
am being annoying and making things about myself. This has changed the way I go about my life
and converse with others.
When watching shows and movies as a kid, I would often act like the main character after
I was finished watching it. I did not choose to act like them, it would just happen. While this
hasn’t shaped myself and my values long term, I think it is an interesting point to bring up. I
would begin to act exactly like the main character, the person everyone wants to be.
Subconsciously, I wanted to be like them, and the story affected me so much, I did just that.
Stories have a way of affecting each person who hears it. Throughout my life, I have been
told many different stories, about a variety of things. Each of these, however, have helped shape
me into the person that I am today, and shaping my own personal values about things. I have
learned who I want to be and who I do not, and many life lessons along the way. I tell stories a
lot, and that, too, has affected my life, just as much as hearing them or watching them on a movie
screen.