During her senior year of college, Larissa "Larz" May started #HalfTheStory, a social media platform where people are invited to post a rawer, unedited version of their experiences. To date, individuals from more than 99 countries have contributed. Here, the 23-year-old opens up about the epiphany that inspired #HalfTheStory, and why telling your whole story can be so liberating.
大四的时候，拉里萨·梅（拉兹）开展了#HalfTheStory活动，这是一个社交媒体平台，邀请人们发表真实的、未经编辑的个人经历。迄今为止，来自超过99个国家的人已在平台上发帖。这位23岁的姑娘在这儿直抒胸臆，谈论了启发她开展#HalfTheStory的想法，以及说出自己的故事为什么会让你感到自由。

What moved you to launch #HalfTheStory?
什么驱动你开展#HalfTheStory？

#HalfTheStory encourages you to show a piece of yourself in your social media story. In two words, it's life unfiltered. I started it when I was at Vanderbilt University, and trying to make a foray into the fashion world. I was writing a blog, and going to New York to cover Fashion Week, as well as for client meetings for my social media consulting business. But I realized that while the world saw me one way, I was feeling a completely different way behind the screen.
#HalfTheStory鼓励你在社交媒体故事中展示真实的自己。换个词：没有滤镜的生活。在范德比尔特大学的求学期间，我就开展了这项活动，试图进军时尚圈。当时我还在写博客、去纽约报导时装周、同时与顾客会面谈论社交媒体咨询业务。但我意识到，虽然这个世界是这样看待我的，但'屏幕背后'的我却是截然不同的一个人。

Mental health has always been something I've struggled with, specifically anxiety, and depression in college. And I was starting to lose myself in my social media presence. I was utterly overwhelmed by it. With #HalfTheStory, I hoped to create a safe place for people to connect in a more authentic way.
大学时我一直都在与心理健康作斗争，尤其是焦虑和抑郁。我开始迷失在社交媒体所呈现的形象中。甚至完全离不开它。有了#HalfTheStory，我希望为人们创造一个安全的平台，让他们更真实的交流。

How did you get the concept off the ground?
你如何推广这一概念？

The idea was really born out of my college dorm room. I built the idea and worked with a friend to build the logo. Vanderbilt granted me an $800 grant, which allowed me to purchase stickers and other marketing materials. I began by speaking to small groups of students at Vanderbilt to share the platform.
我真的是在大学宿舍想出这个概念的。有了这个想法后，我和朋友一起建立了标志。范德比尔特大学给我拨款800美元，我用这笔钱买了贴纸和其它营销材料。我开始在范德比尔特大学与一小群学生交流，分享这个平台。

After opening up about my darkest moments, I felt like this weight had been lifted off me. I no longer had to live up to a standard of perfection. And I started connecting with people on a much deeper level.
谈论最不堪的故事后，我如释重负。我不再为了达到完美标准而活。我开始更深层次的和人们交流。

Have there been any stories that took you by surprise?
有没有任何让你吃惊的故事？

One of the most moving posts I've read was by a student at Vanderbilt. She approached me back in the early days, and used #HalfTheStory as a platform to reveal her sexual orientation.
我读过的最感人的故事之一是范德比尔特大学的一位学生写的。活动最开始的时候她就找到了我，用#HalfTheStory作为平台揭示了自己的性取向。