“Every single person has at least one secret that would break your heart. If we could just remember this, I think there would be a lot more compassion and tolerance in the world,” Frank Warren said.

Frank Warren, creator of the Post Secret website was brought to the Oakland University Campus on Sept. 21, 2011, through the work of the Oakland University Student Congress, Student Lifelecture Board, Student Activities Funding Board, the President’s Office and many more.

Postsecret.com was started on Jan.1, 2005 with the idea of anyone sending a secret on the back of a postcard or any item to the home of Frank Warren in Germantown, Maryland.

The sold out audience occupied the banquet room of the Oakland Center to hear the touching stories from Warren and his experiences to a mixture of college students and adults.

“(Frank Warren) resonates with college students,” Jean Ann Miller, Director of Center for Student Activities, said.  “Great turnout by the community.”

Although admission for Oakland students was free, some students from other colleges like Central Michigan University like Danelle Toerper made the trip from Mount Pleasant.

At the end of the lecture, Warren invited members of the audience to tell their secrets and experiences to Warren and attendees.

From the deeply personal to the simple, there were surprises. One secret was dedicated a fellow student.

Alicia Basin, sophomore psychology major, shared her secret of love to student Haley Fleming, sophmore mathematics and secondary education major, as well as an offer to be her girlfriend, which Flemming accepted.

“It was a last minute decision,” Basin said.

Warren often expressed that the allure of the Post Secret is that you can find posts that any person can relate to, as well as learn new things about themselves.

“It’s an eye opener to things you might not see in your everyday life,” Fleming said. “When I sent in my first post secret, a lot changed that day. That was the day I met (Basin).”

After the student involvement, Warren stayed afterwards to sign books to anyone that wanted to meet him.

Miller expressed that OU hasn’t had lecturer that was so personable with the students since Elton Brown.

Although, Warren started the project, he often expressed that he isn’t the reason for the success; it’s the people from all around the world who contribute that make it what is today.

From the motivational to the moving, no secret is too big or small. Every experience is just as important as the other.

Read the full article in the Sept. 28 issue of the Oakland Post.

Check out the Oakland University Post Secret Chapter.

To seek help with any counseling, contact the Graham Health Center