March 2, 2006
by Gail Matsunaga

“I thought it would be a good experience for me, as well as [a chance to] get over some of the issues in foster care that I had.”

So explains Guardian Scholar Torhon Barnes — one of 11 scholars who took part in a January Digital Storytelling workshop in Berkeley.

The special workshop is an intensive, four-day program designed to facilitate the process of emotional or psychological healing, said Jenny Vinopal, director of the campus program established to support ambitious, college-bound youths exiting the foster care system. Last year, 10 Guardian Scholars took part.

Funded by a gift from the Stuart Foundation, the experience gave scholars an opportunity to develop personal three-to-five-minute digital stories using their own words, images and music.

For Barnes, a junior majoring in child and adolescent studies, “it was much better than I expected: it was like therapy. The bonding, getting to know the other scholars more personally — as well as getting to know myself better.”

‘It was intense and stressful, but the trainers are skilled at pulling out your story.’

Freshman pre-business administration major Desiree Penland wanted to “keep it positive. I thought it would be a good opportunity to show friends and family how I feel, how grateful I am.

“I didn’t want to have a sappy story, but it ended up being sappy because that’s my life. It ended up being more about my mother, and I would have liked the focus to be more about the people in my life now,” said Penland. “But, it came out really well.”

Unbeknownst to her, Vinopal became the 12th participant in the workshop. She had accompanied last year’s group, but didn’t create her own story.
Being there for the students and taking part with the students was not the same thing.

“It was intense and stressful, but the trainers are skilled at pulling out your story,” said Vinopal. “For me, it was a moment to relive my boat-person experience. It does affect and shape who I am today.

“I did realize how much we had in common, rather than differences. The students got to know me on a different level, and I got to appreciate their hard work.”

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