Favorite Stories

My three favorite stories are the following.

1) http://storycorps.org/listen/beverly-eckert/
2) http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_purdy_living_beyond_limits.html
3) http://storycorps.org/listen/mj-seide-talks-to-her-granddaughter-genna-alperin/

These are my favorite because I feel that all three have the rule of empathy. All three do a very well job at making the listener feel what is being said, they make the listener feel as if we are living the story they are telling. I was able to laugh at the funny stories, cry at the sad ones and smile at the cute ones and i think that is an important aspect for a story to have.

 I enjoyed these stories very much and in my opinion all three are examples of what good stories sound like. They keep listeners at the edge of their seat while making us feel a cluster of emotions as well. I think that these stories have helped me understand what makes a good story and has helped outline ideas of how  I might want to make my interview story sound and flow.

Not only are these good stories but they are all very powerful and have great story structure which makes the stories all the more interesting.  

Story 12- Identity | StoryCorps | Page 3

Identity | StoryCorps | Page 3

This story I thought was very cute.  A young girl tells her mom how she feels about her dyslexia and how she feels she has it simply because her brain is different. Every bairn is a little different is what she says and she is right! Its cute how she doesn't let it bring her down and she doesn't feel any less than people who don't have dyslexia. She sounds like a very smart girl.

An observation I made was that she switched roles and started to ask her mom questions. Her parent became the interviewee like many other stories that I heard that involved children and their parents. However, It was touching to hear this little girl speak of her dyslexia and how difficult is was in the beginning but how she over came it. Although I do not have dyslexia I can still connect to her in terms of over coming difficult things. I liked how open and accepting she was and I enjoyed it because I know that she probably isn't a judgmental person because she has seen may people judge her and she knows what that feels like.

Over all, this is a touching story. It wasn't sad or unbelievable like many of the other stories but it was cute and from a child's view and I enjoyed it very much.

Story 11- Identity | StoryCorps | Page 3

Identity | StoryCorps | Page 3

The reason I picked this story was because I recognized the name. " Chunky" is popular in Barrio Logan and  although I don't personally know him I have heard of him and I know that he is known for singing about the neighborhood. I believe he grew up in Logan around the time that my mom, aunts, and uncles did and I have heard stories about how involved he is in the community.

What I really enjoyed was the second I clicked play I was intrigued by the sound of his voice. It has character and was very entertaining to listen to. Although he seemed very up beat about what he was talking about, it was still shocking to hear that teachers would change their names. He made his story funny and found a way to lighten the situation because i'm sure people may not find that funny at all but he found a way to make it funny. I really did enjoy this story, it was shorter than many of the ones I've heard but it was also one of the funniest.

Set aside from the funniness, I thought that it was actually powerful and eye opening. Teachers would change students names to sound more like  names pronounced in english and that is shocking and  wouldn't be okay now a days.

Story 10- Hurricane Katrina | StoryCorps

Hurricane Katrina | StoryCorps

This story is about a Hurricane Katrina victim and his family. I think that this story was also one that was a bit difficult to listen to because the man is telling the story about losing his family.

It makes me place myself in his situation and makes we wonder what I would do and how I would even move past the fact that my family was gone. What makes this story so sad in my opinion is the fact that he not only lost one family member but multiple! He says that he was the only one who was able to get out of the house. He lost his wife, daughter, and mother in law. It is kind of difficult to listen to because you hear his voice crack and you feel his pain and emotions along with him as he tells his story.

It makes me thing about how I would try to handle the situation and I don't think that I could be as strong as he is. He has to push himself everyday to move past it and what caught my attention about this story was when he said that he used to live for his family and what not and now they're gone. I cant even imagine what that would be like. Its a terrifying story if you place yourself in his shoes.

Although it was sad, I really liked how you feel his emotions and you know that what he is saying is coming from his heart, form pain and his own experience.

Story 9- Romance | StoryCorps | Page 4

Romance | StoryCorps | Page 4

This story is about a mother telling her son how she met his father. I thought this story had a lot of character and that is because of what is said about the boys father. Although not much is said about his actual character and what he was like you can tell that he was a spontaneous man based on the actions mentioned in the story.

Another thing I really liked about this story was the fact the son was interviewing his mother and you can tell that they have a good relationship. You hear their tone of voice and laughter and you know they are having a comfortable conversation. It isn't a sad or super serious story like many other stories on StoryCorps but it is still an enjoyable story to listen to. I enjoyed how they spoke about love towards the end and how it ended with the mother explaining love.

I liked this story because it made me smile and laugh along with the story tellers. It was cute, I would describe it as short and sweet.

Story 8- Identity | StoryCorps | Page 2

Identity | StoryCorps | Page 2

This story is about a woman telling her granddaughter about being gay. Its a little weird at first and a bit confusing but it's about MJ falling in love with Genna's real grandmother.

What I admired most about this story was the innocence of the granddaughter. MJ spoke to Genna as if she was an adult, it didn't sound as if she dumbed anything down and I really liked how there was so much honesty.  MJ sounded comfortable and not afraid to talk to Genna. I liked the point in the story when the roles kind of switch and MJ asks  Genna whether she is embarrassed about having a gay grandma.That point in the story is where the listener feels the compassion and  love these two have for one another. I find it adorable how attached they are, yet they aren't even blood related. Genna tells MJ that she is her favorite grandma.

I think it's cute how accepting Genna is. MJ is her grandma and that's all she knows and cares about. In my opinion people can really learn from Genna, she is accepting and doesn't care about the choices MJ has made or who she chooses to love, all she cares about is the person she is. I think a lot of people can learn from this child. I think more people should be like her, less judgmental and ignorant towards peoples choices.  

Story 7- Identity | StoryCorps

Identity | StoryCorps

The reason why I really enjoyed this story was because it builds up. In the beginning despite the description next to the the story, you are given a hint at where the story is headed. It still doesn't give it a way too much though because you still don't know how it might end. She describes her sister growing up and her mother and how she remembered looking through photos and not seeing herself. She says that being adopted just wasn't something families would talk about.  

When she found out that she was adopted her family decided to adopt a child themselves but a child from the tribe she recently found out she was from. What makes this story so powerful  is the way everything worked out for them. They adopted a child that was actually related to her without even knowing. It wasn't planned it just happened and to me it was touching. It was almost like Diane found her missing piece,  she was adopted and didn't know until later in life but she was blessed to end up with someone who is actually blood related to her and that in itself is so touching and  powerful.

The ending is my favorite. I really thought that them speaking to one another and saying how glad they are to be together and whatnot really made the story. It made me feel happy and uplifted. It made my eyes water but not because it was sad.