JOUR 231 News Writing: Skinny Dipping for the Rest of Your Life

Stephanie Sheeley at Viveca Tress pool during the summer of 2007

Imagine having to strip down to your “birthday suit” and jumping into the unknown. Stripping down to your bare skin objectifying yourself for the world to view is never easy. Presenting your flaws and all, showcasing to strangers what lies under the layers that constitute acceptance and individuality can be a difficult task.

Life Lessons: From birth until now Stephanie Sheeley has experienced all that life has to offer from the first kiss to the first sip of alcohol to death of her boyfriend of five years. Stephanie mentions, “Stripping away layers of depression, death, and insecurities liberates the soul.”

Stephanie and Will at Ohio University, winter 2009

Life taught Stephanie many lessons, one being the meaning and value of life. From middle school all the way through her freshmen year of college only one person held her heart, Will. Though they had the world against them because of race, class, and religion they were determined to prove the world wrong. Stephanie states, “He was very different from me, he was the white hippie who loved to go to music festivals. He came from a much wealthier family than me.” From the first time they met at a party in the seventh grade to their first kiss this love was unconditional, but with life comes death and Stephanie was forced to face both fate and reality. Three years ago Will was killed in an automobile accident due to the influence of alcohol, for years Stephanie faced denial, depression, and indescribable pain. As a teenager losing anyone that you care for is difficult, but no one can digest what it is like losing your first love “He was one of the sweetest people ever.”

Childhood: Growing up in Shaker Heights, Stephanie has experienced all that life can offer. As a child and baby of the family Stephanie’s only inspirational person was her mother. Stephanie first memory as a child consists of when she was in the first grade. One afternoon her and her best friend Diana was let out of school for the day and Stephanie thought it would be a good idea to kiss her boyfriend at the time named Tyron. Stephanie playfully laughs and states, “It was winter time so I ran up to kiss him and kissed him on his cheek. He then came back and kissed me on the side of my hat, it wasn’t on the lips; that was my first kiss if you want to count that.” Stephanie has remained an open book, sharing her fears and regrets, the best and worst of life, and second chances.

Shaker Heights "Raiderettes" fall of 2007

High School: The last two years of high school consisted of nothing but rebellion, constant drinking and partying became the norm. One of the funniest moments she experienced during her junior year of high school was when a group of her friends noticed a house that had been on sale for months that had a huge pool in the backyard. One night they all stripped down to their “birthday suit” and jumped in the pool. A few hours later Stephanie and her friends noticed their skin breaking out and constant itching of the skin. “We all got sick and itchy because the pool had old dirty water in it.” Stephanie jokingly states, “We were all dumb to think the pool had clean water.” In high school, Stephanie participated in Student Council and danced as a majorette in her high school band. During high school, Stephanie had an abundance of memories some of them that she not proud of and some where she learned about life and the consequences that come along with it.

Stephanie at Michelle Crowder surprise birthday party fall 2009

Future: As young adults, struggling with acceptance, individuality, and self-identity are obstacles life presents itself with. Stripping down baggage such as pain, regret, and oppression takes a strong willed person such as Stephanie to defeat. Overcoming every obstacle builds character and develops a new attitude on life, this future activist and lawyer has just begun her journey to happiness and success. A word of advice this 21 year old Stephanie would tell 18 year old Stephanie, “Be more involved during college and become more diverse. The friendships you make in college are the most meaningful.”

Life of Stephanie Sheeley: