Washington West Story

Can a story really change the world? Every October I volunteer with the Washington West Film Festival, which raises money for a different cause each year. The motto of Washington West is “Story can change the world.” What they mean by this is, we as people are able to relate to one another through universal stories. Sadness and joy look the same in every country, and there isn’t a language barrier in the world that can prevent a filmmaker from sharing a story. The stories in the festival come from local, international, and Hollywood filmmakers; however, where they come from doesn’t determine their worth. We can use these stories to exchange cultures, ideas, political messages, smiles, tears, or knowledge. But could I truly change the world

People like stories. I’ve heard countless reasons why, any of them could be true, but the fact remains, people like stories. I’ve learned through personal experience and the work of Washington West, that story can change people’s lives. Through Washington West I volunteered at a homeless shelter, where a woman, Maria, told me the story of how she and her three kids became homeless. She had faced unemployment and an abusive ex-husband. Maria’s story gave me a new level of respect for homeless people everywhere. Her story changed my perspective. The question remains: Can story change the whole world? Well, we can start with a college. George Mason is one of the most diverse schools in the country, but how familiar are students with each other’s culture? Each other’s struggles? Each other’s stories? I felt closer to Brian after I saw a story that explained to me what he goes through. Imagine using that same power of a story to bring a student body closer together. All you would need is a camera, a youtube channel and some questions. Give each student a chance to share a story, give the school the chance to hear it. Obviously, that’s just a simplified idea, and some censoring would be necessary, but I believe it has