Conversations About Body Image in College

Hi! My name is Sam, and I started this fundraiser last summer to raise money for the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) (and raised over $400 !!). If you want to read more about my story and why I created this project, there's more background in my first post!

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I just finished my freshman year at CU Boulder, and it was full of new experiences, new friends, and newfound independence. I've enjoyed so many aspects of college and appreciate how it's allowed me to grow, but the most difficult part has probably been the constant comparison to peers, especially surrounding body image.

Body image dissatisfaction is so prevalent in college culture, among both guys and girls. I've had countless conversations with friends about how college has brought about new or caused old issues with body image or disordered eating to resurface. I recently went through a difficult period myself where the issues I've been dealing with concerning body image became almost unbearably exhausting.

It was this period and the many conversations surrounding body image I've had these last two semesters that led me to do another round of fundraising. My heart hurts for my friends that have struggled with body image dissatisfaction or disordered eating, for the other students around me that may share a similar story, and even for myself and the loss of self-confidence and self-love that my body dissatisfaction has induced. I want this pain I've witnessed in the lives of others and experienced for myself to be redeemed, to be used for good, to be a catalyst for change, even if that change is just some amount of money donated to an organization.

Please join me in fighting for change by buying some of the stickers I've designed or by donating directly to NEDA's cause.

NEDA is an organization that raises awareness, creates supportive communities for those in recovery, and funds research surrounding eating disorders. It "serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care."

100% of the profit made from the stickers will be donated to NEDA. Like the stickers from the first round of fundraising, the new stickers I designed are based on the favorite flowers of some of my friends from college (YAY NEW FRIENDS!!). You're welcome to buy any of the new or old designs! All stickers are $4, and you can see the list of them on the homepage of this website.

Thank you so much for reading this and for helping me raise awareness and create change. Please, please donate, if you can!!

Thanks again!!

Sam