Rachel Ogden canvassed the HUB-Robeson Center early Friday morning with pens in hand, hoping to leave a mark on her fellow students in more ways than one.
Offering to write the word "love" on the arms of anyone she could find, Ogden (freshman-liberal arts) was looking to raise awareness for the third annual To Write Love On Her Arms Day.
To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) began in 2006 when founder Jamie Tworkowski wanted to help a friend driven to the verge of suicide by her struggles with addiction and abuse. His friend has since recovered, and the effort has grown into a worldwide campaign to offer hope to others whose stories mirror hers.
According to TWLOHA's Web site, twloha.com, depression goes untreated in two out of three cases, sometimes leading to suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 18-to-24-year-olds.
In light of these facts, TWLOHA advocates the importance of seeking treatment for depression and similar issues, affirming that "Love Is The Movement."
The cause has personal resonance for Ogden, who has overcome her own dark periods.
"I have had that story of turnaround and change and hope," she said. "And remembering what my life was like before that, I want no one on this campus to feel that way, like you're alone, like no one can help."
Ogden, a board member for Penn State Students For Life, asked fellow club members to help her formally bring the movement to the university. She said she's excited that she has also garnered support from students from a variety of other organizations, including the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and the Atheist and Agnostic Association.
Frank Machi, a State College resident who helped Ogden with Friday's event, said he felt drawn to the cause because of its promotion of a positive attitude toward life.
"It's about people respecting their own lives and their own value," he said. "We want people to respect their own lives and the lives of others."
Brian Houston (senior-computer science) said he knows people who have faced difficult times. He was impressed by the cause's attempts to reach out to those in need.
"Everyone can use someone to talk to, even just to say, 'Hey, you can get through this,' " he said.
Ogden and the TWLOHA team will spend most of today in the second floor of the HUB, where they hope to share the story with more students.
"Really what we're doing is raising awareness, getting people to hear about the cause, getting people to start discussions about it," she said. "And if we're a catalyst to spur these kinds of things on, it's all worth it."
