By Jesse Garcia
Staff Writer
The Hollywood by the Horns Story Slam is back at California State University, Dominguez Hills for its fourth annual gathering for personal storytelling by CSUDH students. Students are gearing up to fearlessly step up to the microphone and vulnerably share dramatic, funny and tear-jerking personal stories on Sunday, April 29, at the Loker Student Union Ballroom C.
To prepare for the personal storytelling students had to first be comfortable with their own classmates. Week after week they had to be vulnerable to each other to develop and fine-tune the personal stories that they will share Sunday.
The Hollywood by the Horns program was launched by assistant professor of communications at CSUDH, Ryan Bowles Eagle and owner of the Lisa Callamaro Literary Agency, Lisa Callamaro. Their goal for creating this story slam and other CSUDH events was to help students build meaningful relationships between professionals and students.
For some students, having to open up to a group of people they just met at the beginning of the semester was not an easy task.
“The hardest part of this process was being vulnerable,” said Veronica Velasquez, a media industries major. “Vulnerability did not come easy to me, there were many layers that had to be peeled before I could be comfortable with my classmates, Lisa, and myself.”
Other students are not so worried as to the stories they will be sharing but are more focused on the importance of being able to have a voice.
“I hope people realize that our feelings are okay to speak of,” said Erika Arreola, a journalism major. “We all have challenges that shape us to be who we are. We are not alone either.”
Callamaro, who has been guiding the students with crafting their stories, all rooted in personal experience, has provided exceptional direction, students say.
“Lisa has pushed us beyond our comfort and has been vulnerable with us,” said Velazquez.
Ciera Grey-Hart, a public relations and advertising major, echoed the sentiments of many students when she said that the students this semester have created a bond that will continue to grow outside the classroom and beyond the campus.
“It is the most enriching class I’ve ever taken,” Hart said. “I feel fortunate that our college provides a platform for students like myself to share their story.”
