My Six Words Returns to Kuyper for Women’s History Month
For the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging committee at Kuyper College, allowing everyone’s
voice to be heard is essential. 
One of the most creative ways the committee has made this possible is through the My Six Words initiative, which recently returned to campus for Women’s History Month. Participants submitted their six words through a Google Document, which the committee has circulated via email and posters all around campus, in places like the DEI-B bulletin board.
“It’s given students and staff a really cool way to voice their thoughts,” said Professor Jen Colin, assistant professor of social work and the program’s director, who also serves on the Committee.
The initiative is part of a global phenomenon known as the Six Word Memoir project, created by writer and editor Larry Smith. By encouraging people to share their lives in just six words, the project hopes to spark self-expression, focus and human connection.
The idea to bring My Six Words to Kuyper originated with Human Resources Director Annie Fields, who also serves on the committee.
“She shared that her daughter’s workplace had been doing it and suggested that it could be a great way for the Kuyper community to connect with each other,” Colin said. “When we started digging into it, we realized it was part of this global phenomenon.”
And the committee also decided to put its own twist on the project, unique to Kuyper.
“We’re centering it around themes each month, and we started with Black History Month. This month, we’re doing Women’s History Month and, since exams and graduation are happening next month, our theme is going to be managing stress,” said Colin with a laugh.
Maria Sobany-Bosch is one of the students who has participated in the project, both by sharing her six words and creating the poster graphics.
“It’s been fun to invest time and effort into something that I like doing, social media and design, for Black History Month and Women’s History Month. It’s important to celebrate minorities every chance we can,” she said. “I’ve loved doing this campaign thinking about the strong, powerful Black and female voices I am around as part of the women’s basketball team, because they deserve to be celebrated and appreciated every day.”
