The Power of Words

Beverly, MA—Maria Kangas, a freshman at Endicott College, has always been interested in symbolism and its impact on people. On May 14^th, 2013, she released a new blog called “What’s in the Words We Wear.” Based on her troubled but conquering past, Kangas is writing about words that people wear on their bodies, such as tattoos, jewelry, clothing, and even more. 

As a sophomore at Franklin High School, people in her grade constantly bullied Kangas. After being at rock bottom for a couple months, she decided to fight back. She bought a necklace saying “Believe,” and she wore it every day. Not only did it give her self-confidence, but also it made her defeat the bullies. Since then, she has been interested in why that single word had so much power. She wanted to know if words gave such power to others.

This blog features all types of articles about the choice and meaning of words. It ranges from a “How to Iron Letters on a Shirt,” to an article about powerful words that came out from the Boston Marathon Bombings. She even wrote an article about a college student who likes to cover herself with Sharpie. It also includes interviews with experts with words and ordinary college students.

Kangas’ goal for the blog is to find new and deeper meaning behind words. She wants to figure out why someone chose to wear a certain word and how it impacts their lives as well as others. The blog is made for mostly her generation, but anyone of any age can read it. To become more engaged and read more articles on Kangas' blog, click here: "What's in the Words We Wear."