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Frank Warren, founder of the PostSecret program, speaks at the Student Union last night about the various types of secrets he reads from his submitters.

Warren Spills His 'Secret'

By: Kim Primicerio

Posted: 3/5/08

"I watch Dr. Phil … drunk."

"I stole Christian music."

"You called me an idiot, so I sent your bags to the wrong destination. Oops! I guess you're right."

These were just some of the PostSecrets shared by secret collector, Frank Warren Tuesday night at the Student Union Theatre.

Warren shared the secrets of others that inspired many UConn students to get up and tell their secrets to a crowded audience.

Warren is the sole founder of the PostSecret phenomenon that started up three years ago in Washington, when he wanted to create a type of art exhibit displaying peoples' secrets. He started handing out self addressed postcards to random people on the streets asking them to write down their secrets and then mail them to him anonymously. Warren's art project turned into an international event. After his art exhibit closed he continued to get secrets from strangers all over the world.

Warren explained to his audience how PostSecrets began, how he started up the blog, and how it soon had a world wide impact.

The band The All-American Rejects wanted to pay Warren $1000 and have some of his post cards appear in their music video for the song "Dirt Little Secret," but Warren asked them to donate $2,000 to 1-800-Suicide, and he then would allow them to use the postcards.

"We all keep secrets, each one of us buries them in a box inside of us," said Warren. "We should take the box out and share it, like a gift."

Warren carries some of the postcards he receives in his pockets so he can learn from them, and treat others with kindness.

The postcards have raised suicide awareness and saved lives.

"He's amazing," said 8th- semester psychology major Kate Lennard. "It makes people want to do good projects. It's proof that people can do it."

Warren receives about 1,000 postcards a week and every Sunday posts 20 of them on his Web site. A lot of the secrets deal with body image, self harm and suicide, which Warren believes is America's secret.

"Sometimes people want to share a funny story or sex taboo, but there's more to it. There's a spiritual lesson to be learned," said Warren. "People mail postcards to feel less like a victim."

The secret collector has four books out. The books compile the secrets of people ranging from ages 8 to 80.

"He's the virtual therapist of our day," said 8th-semester psychology major Lindsay Fabrizo. When Fabrizo heard about PostSecrets randomly she spent a good hour and a half looking at the Web site.

"It's fascinating, so many made me cry," said Fabrizo.

As Warren's talk came to a close, he wanted to see if the audience had any questions to ask or secrets to share. Students asked Warren why he only picked 20 postcards to post on his Web site a week (he has a lot of postcards to go through), where he keeps all the postcards (in big tubs from Home Depot) and then some brave students got up and shared their secrets.

At first there was only one brave soul, but as more students contributed, more students gained the courage to share the events they had been through or the feelings they experience.

Warren said the telling of secrets is a type of therapy. He believes the experience people go through; and draw upon have a meaning and a purpose.

"Our stories will continue to inspire," said the secret collector. "It's understandable to want to hide, but find the courage and face them. We find the deeper meaning in life by sharing our own stories. Free secrets and become who you are."

Contact Kimberly Primicerio at Kimberly.Primicerio@UConn.edu.