Liz Warren | Storyteller

“No two snowflakes are exactly alike.”   We have all heard that saying.  Well, it’s true.  The shape of a snowflake is determined by the
temperature and humidity of the environment in which it is formed.  The composite shape of the snowflake is
created as it travels through varying ranges of temperature and humidity while
falling from the sky to the ground.

“No two people are exactly alike.”  We have all heard that saying as well.   The composite of our lives is shaped as we
live through the various experiences in our lives that make us who we are at
this very moment. 

I spent the portion of my life from childhood to early
adulthood growing up in the northern region of Iowa.  During that time I saw quite a few
snowflakes; usually in large amounts for long periods of time.  

As a child, I loved the snow.  There were many times when I would catch a
snowflake in my hand and marvel at the beauty and uniqueness of its shape.   I could hardly wait for winter to arrive so
I could play in the snow.  Wind chill temperatures
and snow drifts created a magical winter wonderland for me to play in and
enjoy.

When I grew into adulthood all that changed; I no longer
marveled at the beauty of an individual snowflake.  I dreaded winter’s coming.   Wind chill temperatures and snow drifts were
now major hindrances that kept me from doing the things I wanted to do. 

This is not my first time taking Creating and Telling
Personal Stories.  The first time I took
the class I approached it the same way I approached the winters of my early adulthood.  I feared it. 
I dreaded having to create and
tell my personal stories.  I viewed the experiences in my life as wind
chill temperatures and snow drifts that kept me from doing what I wanted to do
and being who I wanted to be.

This time around it will be different.  Over time, I have learned to look back on the
past experiences of my life and marvel at the things I’ve learned and the
person I’ve become.  Not all of the
experiences were happy; but thankfully not all of them were sad. 

It takes millions of uniquely formed snowflakes to make one
snow drift.  It has taken millions of
unique life experiences to create the person that I am today.  I am honored to have the opportunity to share
a few of those experiences with my classmates.