Friends, families and other members of the NETschool community experienced an amazing night of digital storytelling at the Bendigo Library on Wednesday evening with learners sharing their personal journeys through the rollercoaster ride of anxiety and depression.
Funded by the City of Greater Bendigo’s Community Grants program, the storytelling project encouraged students to share their life experiences via audio and digital imagery under the collective title “They said I couldn’t do it and I did”.
Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards, local psychologist and author Ivan Honey, and digital storytelling facilitator Sky Lilly Simpson were among the many NETschool supporters to celebrate the students’ achievements.
The essence of the project was summed up in the learners’ introduction to the evening:
“We were asked to write a story about our journey so far and all the challenges we’ve faced along the way. While many of us didn’t think we had come very far, as we wrote our stories we realised just how much there is to celebrate.
“Many of us have come from a life of disconnection, fear and extreme anxiety. But with support, encouragement and a willingness to reconnect we’ve moved forward in so many ways.
“We’re back at school, making friends, learning, having loads of new experiences, and most of all we’re having fun.”
Congratulations to Alex, Bonny, Beth, Brie, Daisy, Grace, Mikayla, Siobhan, Stacey and NETschool mentor Judy Kidd for sharing their inspirational stories.