whiteboard the girl with the

college senior, lauren lawson, felt inspired to make a difference in others lives. with that goal in mind she took to the streets with her whiteboard in hand, greeting passersby with simple messages of positivity. you see, the only thing the girl with the whiteboard protests is negativty.

interview: katie michels photography: gerry cruz

What is the “The Girl with the Whiteboard” project and how did it come about?

Lauren Lawson: In the fall, I had decided to abandon my pursuit of medical school because I felt that I would have to deviate from a number of my values and desires. At the end of October, I had been pondering what career would suit me well. With graduation quickly approaching, I wanted to nail down a career that would involve my passion: helping others and making a difference. At one point, I stopped myself and thought, “Why wait until I have a career to make a difference? Why not do something now?” As a college student with little disposable income and few resources, I wondered how I could possibly do something that would go beyond the service I had been involved with in the past. My goal was to impact one life. I can now say that it has far exceeded that goal.

The project essentially entails me standing silently and holding a whiteboard with an inspirational message in busy, metropolitan areas. If approached, I offer words of encouragement, engage in conversations on life perspectives, and listen to the stories of my visitors.

So you never speak unless spoken to first. Is that correct?

That is correct. The project is passive. If people want to stop, great. If not, then I know they at least read the message, and it will make them think. My most moving emails have come from people who never paused to speak with me.

Have you been surprised by the overwhelming response to “The Girl with the Whiteboard?” Not particularly. You see, belief makes reality. My genuine desire to do good in this world is recognized and reciprocated. Optimism is met with optimism. I think what did surprise me was how quickly it has grown, especially how much the Chicago media took notice. In Washington D.C., everyone competes for exposure on their causes and politics are dominant. But Chicago news providers were so supportive and kind from the very first minutes of the project and have continued into my D.C. project. I believe that as long as you are a human being, you can appreciate my cause. We can only be independent to an extent; from time to time, we enjoy others telling us that we matter and have the ability to achieve.

What makes you “view the world with optimism” – who or what do you attribute that attitude to?

In the past it has been my family, friends, or anyone who has supported me that has encouraged me to do the same. I have been through my struggles, like everyone else, and whenever I started to look around, I would see people there that wanted to see me succeed. At my lowest moments, the acts of other human beings made me regain a value for my own life. But, it is amazing that when you step back and view the world, you see strangers helping each other. I viewed it often in Chicago and D.C. In addition, the more people I talk to on the project, the more I find that humans are innately compassionate. Regardless of our nationality, religion, or beliefs, we all want a stable career and a happy life with balance.

How much planning goes into each day’s message and what you might say to passersby?

I keep a running list of ideas, concepts, and phrases that I feel would be particularly helpful. Keeping the messages to a few words makes them easy for even someone in a hurry to read, so I make sure they all stay under four words. I often consider exactly where I will be standing when choosing the message for the day; I do not want to be falsely viewed as a protester or as someone supporting a particular religion, political party, etc. I protest only negativity. This project is simply a genuine person acting on [her] morals.

It takes a dedicated and secure person to stand for hours on a busy city street corner holding a sign for all to see. Not to mention traveling across the country and doing the same thing in an unfamiliar place. What motivates you to keep this project going and do what you do?

I gained the self-assurance through practice, leadership, and the challenge of overcoming the thoughts of anyone that ever doubted me or made me feel worthless. Being able to triumph [over] a situation leaves resilience in your soul. Once I had found my light, I knew I had to share it with others. Thousands of smiles, hugs, and conversations alone would have been enough for me to continue. What exceeds that in meaning are the personal emails I receive. I learn that some of my viewers chose not to commit suicide, began a business, or restored their belief in humanity because they saw me in action. The fact that I, one person without power, money, or status, am able to incite change in people for the better has given me a feeling unmatched by anything I have ever done. Our world has become too focused on negativity, skeptical and apprehensive about the people around us and blind [to] seeing the beauty around us. I serve as a reminder that we are capable of experiencing a fulfilled, content, and driven life. Our outward attitude will determine what we get out of it. Our actions will determine how far we will go.

At the end of each day spent holding your whiteboard, you turn to your website to blog about the experience and the people who made an impression on you that particular day. This self-reflection is good promotion, but it also feels deeper than that – like a journal entry sharing what you personally have learned. Tell readers about the words you write. I weave together my experiences, observations, and motivating stories by people from around the world in the blog so that readers can be empowered. You may have noticed that the site does not even include my name; that was done intentionally. My reflections and lessons are for my viewers, and I want nothing more than to be able to offer a perspective that shows what you can gain from your environment if you take the time to view it. By living to assist others, I have found that I gain as much, if not more, than I give. I view every single moment of every single day as an opportunity for me to constantly build myself into a better person.

You’ve met so many people while holding your motivational messages. How have your conversations with them transformed the project? My conversations are always slightly varied, but I now find myself referring to other conversations I have had when meeting new people. Listening to stories and perspectives has taught me a lot, surpassing or delving into more topics than I had ever learned in school. The more I speak with people, the more I see that we are all quite similar. Ideas from different cultures and religions frequently follow the same logic or values. Even simple attitudes towards life are shared. I am not the only one possessing an optimistic outlook or performing good deeds; I have met thousands. Although my generation is often criticized for being entitled or lazy, my conversations with today’s youth have led me to a solid conclusion: The young people of the world not only believe they have the power to make an impact, but they are already acting on that belief. The future of this planet is in store for a wave of positive change.

How are you looking to expand “The Girl with the Whiteboard” to cities across the country? Being open to meeting people has afforded me with a network of believers and people who want the project to continue. After I used my savings on the Chicago project, it was fantastic to see my own classmates and friends donate, along with some corporate sponsors, to get me to D.C. I will go wherever life takes me. The project itself is very fluid and could take a number of forms in the future. Having an open mind and support will allow this to continue to be something that has grown to mean a great deal to many, including myself.

How can our readers get involved and share their own positive messages?

I am always interested in hearing personal motivational stories and perspectives, as well as learning what positive messages people would share with the world. Therefore, emails and photographs are always welcome to thegirlwiththewhiteboard@yahoo.com. There is a tab on my website called “Share,” which is a place where followers are encouraged to pass on anything that inspires them. While I am always flattered by people spreading hopeful words through whiteboards, I like to challenge people to get as creative as possible. I may not even always use a whiteboard to get the messages across. After all, people respond the most to kindness when and where it is not anticipated. How do you share your light? I would be curious to know.