Writing to Heal: College Student Stories

Writing about adversity can be a powerful tool for healing. Writing to Heal is a collection of stories of trauma and resilience from undergraduate students enrolled in the Writing to Heal course, taught by Laurie Edwards in the English Department at Northeastern University. Students use expressive writing--writing that is concrete, detailed, and links events with emotions-- to process painful experiences in productive, meaningful, and often, empowering ways. From mental and physical illness to family trauma to living through COVID-19, their stories are both universal in their relevance and distinctly personal, and we are proud to share their healing narratives.