Honors in Action Project

A Collective Heartbeat: Stories of Resilience & Growth

Honors in Action is a cornerstone of Phi Theta Kappa, blending academic research, community engagement, and leadership to create meaningful change. Through HIA, chapters explore complex global issues, conduct scholarly research, and implement projects that address real-world challenges. This year, the Alpha Theta Iota chapter chose to investigate the transformative power of storytelling, particularly its role in post-traumatic growth (PTG) and vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG).

PTG refers to the positive psychological transformation individuals undergo after experiencing adversity, while VPTG describes similar growth in those who hear about or witness others’ struggles. To explore these concepts, our chapter created a documentary showcasing individuals from our community who have endured trauma and emerged stronger. This project provided a platform for resilience, allowing participants to share their journeys while also inspiring audiences through their stories. By screening the documentary and collecting data on its impact, we sought to understand how storytelling fosters healing, empathy, and long-term personal growth.