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In a crowded auditorium filled with faculty and students, Alie Savane, a first-generation college student, explained the importance of being the author of your story.

Outside narratives and conventional stereotypes shape how people view the world, he said, and in his view, often influence the actions they decide to take.

“You can take back what’s rightfully yours, pick up the pen and become the author,” Savane said. “Not the character in someone else’s story.”

On Wednesday, Syracuse University Libraries and the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation hosted a TedX panel in SU’s National Veterans Resource Center. The event featured journalists, authors and professors who shared their experiences and vision for the future. Five speakers each offered insight on maintaining your narrative, despite what others think.

Each speaker brought their own experience to the podium, reflecting on what they’ve learned throughout their lives. Several speakers discussed the concept of a single story, or basing a person off one moment or instance and ignoring their full backstory. Savane explained that being yourself and not others’ opinions of you is invaluable in progressing your skills for the future.

Reed Cleland, an audience member and master’s student at SU, reflected on the ideas discussed by the speakers. He was particularly struck by the concept of a single story.

“Being able to create your own story when you go back in your past, looking at who you truly are now and using it as a construct for your future self, that stuck with me,” Cleland said.

Jordan Pierre, an SU alum and founder of VOICE, described the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy. People become what you label them, and hearing something enough times will make you believe it’s true, he said.

Media personalities and creative media have obscured many of our outlooks on the world, Pierre said. He mentioned how quick people are to forget the opportunities that exist in the real world, instead folding into the relatively small sample size of ones they see online.

Several speakers offered their insight on maintaining your narrative, in spite of what others think. The event featured journalists, authors and professors who shared their experiences and vision for the future. Brycen Pace | Asst. Photo Editor

Sonia Issa, a master’s student at SU, spoke about the importance of rest. In a time that prioritizes efficiency, people often get exhausted. Issa referenced her struggle with whether to send money back home for her family or buy groceries.

“If you weren’t exhausted, you’re not doing enough,” Issa said she learned during her youth. “I was taught survival, but now I’m learning softness.”

Prioritizing rest is difficult for many because of the uncertainty of success, Issa said. Redefining rest as a right, not a reward, is a way of breaking the cycle of exhaustion. In her view, it’s OK to desire relaxation because everyone deserves to be OK now and not later.

Along with the ways we showcase our knowledge, Jeffrey Rogers, an adjunct professor of practice in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, talked about the various ways we absorb information and learn new things. He addressed how ideas like learning style and behavioral identity can greatly benefit collaboration.

He explained how people are often reminded of how they can improve, but not of the skills they already possess. The first step is to understand who you already are, and not who you hope to become, Rogers said.

Melissa Martinez, a presenter and assistant teaching professor of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, spoke about seeing yourself in the audience. Aligning your content with what you would want to see is a core part of getting started on social media, she said.

She spoke about feeling overwhelmed, seeing yourself on the internet and the accompanying fear of not finding an audience. She explained the system with two keys: enjoyment and consistency.

Because people love passion, doing something you enjoy will attract an audience — whether big or small. After the first step, doing it over and over again will lead to growth, she said

Each speaker emphasized understanding who you are now, not what the past or future says about you. The group described doing things for yourself as invaluable, highlighting the benefits that come once you stop worrying about what others think.

“It isn’t endurance, it’s self-compassion,” Issa said. “It’s letting yourself be seen when you’re not perfect.”

Published on April 10, 2025 at 1:24 am