Shh it’s a se­cret (Warn­ing: Web site may con­tain graphic con­tent)

In chapel a few months ago, Dale and Jonalyn Fincher mentioned the Post-Secret Web site in which people can anonymously send in their darkest secrets via email or by sending in a postcard.

Sev­eral stu­dents at Bethel have gone on the Web site and read the se­crets posted.

"Al­though some of the se­crets are ex­tremely per­sonal and some­times graphic, I thought it was amaz­ing that so many peo­ple had found a ther­a­peu­tic and cre­ative way to share their prob­lems with oth­ers," said se­nior Am­ber Wray.

Sopho­more Amy Fish­bein found the se­crets dis­played shock­ing.

"It’s strange to me that one pic­ture can be so se­ri­ous, like talk­ing about sex­ual ori­en­ta­tion, and then the very next one is about what kind of wrap­ping pa­per some­one prefers."

Fish­bein is a fan of the Web site but would not use it her­self.

"I think it’s a great Web site for some be­cause it is a way of ex­pres­sion and let­ting out your feel­ings anony­mously," she said. "But at the same time, that’s not my way of let­ting out feel­ings."

But se­niors Amanda Cat­tell and Am­ber Wray have con­sid­ered it.

"I have never sent any­thing in my­self, but have def­i­nitely thought about it," said Wray.

Cat­tell has wanted to send some­thing in for a while.

"But I can’t think of a se­cret that I would send in," she said.

Wray said the art and how peo­ple ex­press them­selves is a good out­let for those who need it..

But, "the Web site should not re­place per­sonal in­ter­ac­tion be­tween peo­ple, but it can of­fer anonymity and se­cu­rity for those who fear be­ing judged," she said.

Wray, Fish­bein and Cat­tell agree and think it’s a good way for peo­ple to ex­press them­selves and share with oth­ers who also may be post­ing a se­cret.

"Every Sun­day when the new se­crets come out, there al­ways seems to be a few about sui­cide and de­pres­sion," said Cat­tell. "Un­der­neath all of these se­crets there are anony­mous peo­ple who com­ment on the post­cards with ei­ther en­cour­age­ment or a story of their own. I think that in it­self is a kind of ther­apy."

For more information go to: http://postsecret.blogspot.com.