“Bits and Pieces” by Alexis Seith

This story, from Georgia Tech student Alexis Seith, explores how we can pursue feelings of wholeness by noticing fragments of ourselves – regardless of whether those fragments can be pieced back together. Alexis finds both pain and beauty in the pieces of her life as well as a way to hold both at once. This story was produced in partnership with The Narrative Engineer conference through The Georgia Institute of Technology.

“Split Ends” by Michael Costello

 This story from Olin College of Engineering graduate Michael Costello finds him wondering which pieces of his high school identity to bring into college. In the absence of actively cultivating his identity, he discovers his ability to flourish in college gets tangled up — like hair that hasn’t been cut in a while.

Emily Roper Doten

This story from Olin’s former dean of admissions and financial aid Emily Roper-Doten (now dean of admissions at Brandeis University) recounts a key moment in her own time as a first-generation college student when socioeconomic class differences became starkly evident to her — and the ways in which that moment has shaped her career-long commitment to equity.

To learn more about Storytelling, visit Olin College’s Story Lab website here.

“Decoding the Rules” by Amon Millner

This story from Olin professor of computing and innovation Amon Millner recounts the origins of his investment in changing the computer systems that govern our world. He takes us from his divorced parents’ very different homes to a fateful moment at a carnival to his current work in computing, linking the personal and the cultural.

To learn more about Storytelling, visit Olin College’s Story Lab website here.

“Some Kind of Blue” by Myles Tate Alsgaard

This story from University of Connecticut student Myles Tate-Alsgaard poignantly captures his developmental stagnation. In a self-aware and poetic story, Myles describes his evolution as a jazz bass player and the ways his own personal development have stalled alongside his dedication to music. The story demonstrates what it means to feel in between adolescence and adulthood.

To learn more about Storytelling, visit Olin College’s Story Lab website here.