Monmouth Becomes First N.J. College to Adopt a Chapter of TWLOHA
Your life matters. This is one of the main ideas that the non-profit organization, To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) stresses. Sophomore Sarah Vander Wall is bringing a chapter of TWLOHA to the University this semester, as well as making Monmouth the first college in New Jersey where TWLOHA is recognized.
According to their website, twloha.com, “To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.”
The idea of TWLOHA is that no one person is alone, no matter how much it may seem that way. The site goes on to state, “We know that pain is very real. It is our privilege to suggest that hope is real, and that help is real.”
“We live in a difficult world,” TWLOHA explains on their website, and yet “you’re part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters.”
About a year ago the founder of TWLOHA, Jamie Tworkowski, spoke at Vander Wall’s previous college, The College of New Jersey. The idea that the organization covers so many different things and touchy subjects appealed to Vander Wall. “The fact that people aren’t alone can really brace the stigma for those affected,” she explained. “I think every college should have it. Knowing people who have been through rough patches in their life, and that they aren’t the only ones, can make a difference,” she said.
TWLOHA encourages treatment on their website, whether it is from people sitting in front of counselors, people stepping into treatment and at more desperate times, calling a suicide hot line. Beyond treatment the idea of TWLOHA is to bring people together, to help one another. “We believe community is essential,” the site states, “That people need other people, that we were never meant to live life alone.”
The organization, according to TWLOHA’s website, started with a story written by Tworkowski, about 19-year-old Renee Yohe, who struggled with addiction, depression, self-injury and attempted suicide. Tworkowski’s story, written in February 2006, discusses Yohe’s life five days before she entered treatment. While unable to get Yohe checked into a treatment center, friends offered moral support in the meantime. “We became her hospital and the possibility of healing filled our living room with life,” Tworkowski had said on the page.
They began selling TWLOHA t-shirts as a way to pay for Yohe’s treatment, as well as creating a Myspace to give the organization a web-based home.
began hearing from other people with similar problems who were seeking help and looking to share their stories. As well as others who were looking to get involved and help in any way they could. The site directly goes on to say in the description, “Over the four years, we’ve responded to 150,000 messages from people in 40 different countries. We’ve had the opportunity to bring this conversation, and a message of hope and help, to concerts, universities, festivals and churches. We’ve learned that these are not American issues, not white issues or ‘emo’ issues.” These are issues of huamity, problems of pain that affect millions of people around the world.”
Junior Photography Major Nicole Sidari has been a follower of TWLOHA since she first saw her favorite band, Anberlin, supporting the organization a few years ago by wearing TWLOHA t-shirts. She explained, “I think suicide prevention is important, especially lately there have been an increasing number of stories where people have committed suicide because of depression or bullying.” Sidari went to high school with Rutgers student Tyler Clementi, who just last year had committed suicide after being harassed by his roommate for being homosexual. She said, “It is important to let people know they are not alone, and that is what TWLOHA is for, they can get support and they can get help if they are having those thoughts.”
Vander Wall is currently making her way through the process of becoming a recognized organization on campus. The club advisor is faculty adjunct Kathryn Nogueira who works in the Communication Department. Nogueira’s roll as the advisor involves helping out in whatever ways possible to get the organization off the ground and running. She said, “This (TWLOHA) is such a great organization and I am so happy that Sarah is working so hard to bring it to campus. I encourage all students to get involved because it covers so many different issues that a lot of students may be struggling with.”
Vander Wall said, “Community is essential. Spread the word. Spread hope.” She explained that the club is still going to through the process of becoming recognized, there a few more steps to take. The first meeting will be announced in the future. To learn more visit TWLOHA.com or e-mail Sarah Vander Wall at s0813544@monmouth.edu.
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