Tell Me Your Story
The Project
Tell Me Your Story is a charitable project that illuminates the importance of honoring the wisdom of the elderly that ultimately won 3rd place in North America in the IWitness Video Challenge (Spielberg's humanitarian contest). After watching a documentary about an elderly woman who is so lonely so shreds her junk mail on weekends just to have something to do, I felt so heartbroken I decided to interview the elderly and give them the gift of their stories.
This project is my effort to know people for who they are and to share it with others. Studies show when we look at pictures of the elderly, the empathetic part of our brains does not light up. In this country, we idolize and celebrate youth, not the wisdom of old age. Yet, the past contains jewels of wisdom. This project is my attempt to learn from elderly people's wisdom to create a better world. |
The Book
One of my favorite stories I collected was that of a 70-year-old Taiwanese immigrant named Ya Huey, who spoke about finding joy in a piece of chalk, the importance of nurturing diverse friendships, and boldly chasing dreams. Because of her indomitable spirit and simple values, her story, The Girl Who Loved Rice Balls, was my favorite. I hope to continue changing the world one person at a time through my art and writing. It’s the most exciting journey upon which I’ve ever embarked.
The Movie
"Tell Me Your Story" won 3rd place in N. America in the IWitness Video Challenge (Spielberg's humanitarian contest). 4 minutes.
The Inspiration
"Junk Mail" is a moving documentary about 98-year-old Mary, who is so lonely she shreds junk mail on weekends to keep from going crazy with loneliness. 10 minutes.