Hillyer Honors Humanities Seminar Students Present "Stories of Change"

In the Hillyer College Honors Humanities Seminar, Stories of Change, led by Instructor of English Leslie Johnson, students learned how writers, visual artists, and musicians use their art to fight for social change and to tell tales of personal development. This seminar featured guest lecturers and musicians, a visit to the New Britain Museum of American Art, and hands-on arts activities.   

Last month, the Hillyer Honors students presented their own poems and stories on a subject of significant for them at UHart’s Honors Colloquium. Additionally, the students presented research they conducted about their topic.

Arohi Verma ‘26, a first-year integrated elementary and special education major, focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Arohi says they chose this topic because many of their family members and friends have experienced the effects of mental health problems. Arohi performed a ballad (a song or poem) that they had written during a sensitive point in their life. They also shared information from the National Alliance on Mental Health that 20 percent of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide, and nine percent have attempted to take their own lives.  

Psychology major Cynthia Puerta presented research about the unfair treatment of and prejudices against Latinos. She says she has a personal interest in this subject since she has encountered discrimination. “I learned that it is so important to speak up about these types of issues,” she says. “Unfortunately, not many do because these subjects are considered taboo, however, the more we speak about it, the more we can start to bring awareness and educate others.” 

In addition to Arohi and Cynthia, Hillyer students who presented at the colloquium include Jessica Bello, Gabriella Carr, Ryan Ferraro, and Briella Laliberte.   

"I was very impressed with how passionately the students spoke about their issues of social change,” says Johnson. “Along with reading their ballads, they shared moving stories about their own experiences with the topics and their ideas about how to improve on the problem for the future. Their desire to change the world for the better was beautifully expressed."