Members of the TMI Project, a nonprofit transmedia organization, brought their true storytelling workshop program to Onteora Middle School (OMS) on September 18.

During an assembly, TMI Project presenters discussed the many different ways people can share their stories. One of those ways is social media, a format that can often be highly curated and may not reflect a person’s full experience. Presenters engaged students in age-appropriate conversations about the power and influence of social media and the difference between the versions of ourselves we present online and our authentic experiences.

As part of the assembly, video clips featured students from other schools discussing how sharing personal stories on social media can create anxiety about likes, comments, and others’ reactions. Presenters encouraged OMS students to think about connection, belonging, listening to others, and the value of telling their own stories.

After the assembly, students interested in joining the TMI Project Storytelling Club, an afterschool program that will meet monthly at OMS, were invited to stay for a short workshop and learn more about the program. Students who join the club will have opportunities to write, create and share stories, listen to one another, and make connections with their peers. Students will not be required to share their writing or personal stories aloud but may choose to do so if they feel comfortable.

“We believe this is a valuable opportunity to help our students think more carefully about the role social media plays in their lives while providing them with positive ways to connect and express themselves,” said Onteora Middle School Principal Don Solimene.