Spring Break
Students divulge their secrets
Cat Potter
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: Features
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PostSecret.com is a Web site started by Warren that displays various secrets from people all over the globe, and is updated every Sunday.
According to Warren, he started the Web site after passing out 1000 postcards to strangers in the D.C. area, and eventually began receiving more secrets than postcards originally distributed.
The Web site was launched in November 2004, and has since received thousands of secrets while getting about a million hits to the site each week.
Warren feels the Web site provides a place for people to divulge secrets they have never before been able to share with others.
"I wanted to create a safe nonjudgmental place where people like me could share our secret selves," said Warren.
Warren's vision for his Web site extended to the crowd of many ECU students and some non-students as Warren spoke about the project and the secrets he has collected over the years.
Some of the secrets shared brought tears, hugs, laughter and cheers from all of those in attendance.
Warren emphasized the importance of expressing yourself in artistic ways and the value in getting rid of secrets that many have struggled with their entire lives.
"When we think we're keeping a secret … that secret is keeping us," Warren said in his presentation.
Warren also said that he believes there are two kinds of secrets, "those that we hide from other people, and those that we hide from ourselves."
Near the end of the presentation, Warren revealed one of his own personal secrets that he had never shared, and then invited those in attendance to share their secrets as well.
"My favorite part is when I open up the floor and have students tell their secrets," Warren said.
Warren empathized with the revelations of many of the attendees as they lined up to reveal a wide variety of secrets, ranging from the losses of loved ones and childhood confessions to the secret desire to bump into people on the sidewalk on the way to class.
He also expressed an affinity for ECU and the atmosphere created in the hour-long presentation before taking pictures with students and signing PostSecret books in Mendenhall.
Warren has approximately 20 more events scheduled for the remainder of 2008 in cities all over the country and encourages students to spread the word about PostSecret to their friends at other schools.
For more information about upcoming PostSecret events, visit the Web site at postsecret.com.
This writer can be contacted at copy@theeastcarolinian.com.
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