Stories Matter

Please review one of our guest blogs by CMU’s very own Kate Caszatt.  Kate has served in her current role as an Administrative Assistant in the Provost office since January 2018. She recently graduated with a master’s degree in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health from Central Michigan University and became a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC) in March 2021. She currently serves as a member of the University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. If you have any questions or comments regarding Kate’s blog, please feel free to email her directly at casza1kl@cmich.edu. Thank you

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In the midst of what feels like constant turmoil in our country I can’t help but connect the current events to my own experiences as a person outside of the typical cultural norms. Growing up with Turner Syndrome, which affects my appearance in a variety of ways, most notably my height, I became aware from an early age that I stood out for reasons outside of my control.I understand pretty well the feeling of eyes on you and how that can change a person. It impacted so many things from how I felt about myself, how I thought others felt about me, and how I interacted with the world around me. It wasn’t until I was 15 where I finally saw someone like me, Peter Dinklage, in The Station Agent, that I felt someone else truly understood how I felt. It is hard to describe how powerful that experience was for me. This experience helped ingrain in me the potency of telling and taking in stories from so many different perspectives, whether in real life, books, or our screens.

As someone who just completed her graduate program in counseling last fall, I have also experienced first hand the power of simply providing a safe space for clients to tell their stories and how impactful that can be to healing. Having such experiences is a privilege I have not taken lightly and strive to provide as much as possible.

I believe if we are open to sharing our own stories and hearing the stories of others, there is so much to gain. We can better understand each other and develop a greater empathy for one another. I think continuing to have such discussions can be an integral to work towards some important healing as a country and the work Central Michigan University is doing towards diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

7 thoughts on “Stories Matter

  1. Great job Kate, we love you and are so very proud of you! We knew from the very first that you would do well, you have always had such determination! Keep on keeping on! Love Uncle Paul and Aunt Cathy!

  2. Great story and powerful message… thanks for sharing and hopefully opening peoples eyes and hearts!

  3. Your story rings the bell of clarity and truth told Kate. I can only say you are making an impact and your counseling work will be that much more effective from your lived and shared experience.

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