Volunteer Spotlight: Doug Schwarz
Interviewed by Jennifer Raikes, TLC President
- Reprinted from InTouch Issue 51
- © Trichotillomania Learning Center, Inc. 2008. All Rights Reserved
Doug Schwarz has been a cherished member of the TLC community since he was 13 years old. An Oklahoma City native, he is currently in his hometown pursuing a career in photography and film. His goal is to make enough money working commercially in photography to be able to explore the artistic aspects of this medium as well. Now 22 yrs old, he's handsome, single, and an active volunteer with TLC.
- Jennifer
What is your first memory of TLC?
"What am I doing here at this Retreat?" I was a freaked out 13-year-old kid who didn't know anybody and thought it was a waste of time. I had started pulling when I was about 7 or 8 years old. My mother had found an article in the Oklahoma paper that had Christina in it and we found out about trichotillomania and how it had a name and, "Oh my God I'm Not Alone" and all that. So we found there was a Retreat and decided to go.
There is a famous story about your first Retreat. Will you repeat it for me?
Does it involve a microphone? Okay...On the bus on the way to the Retreat center, I spent the entire ride entertaining the bus passengers with the bus's microphone.
And that is many people's first memory of you?
Yes.
When did you stop feeling freaked out at your first Retreat?
Twenty-four hours into it I had started talking to people and realized this was a huge blanket that I would be more than happy to wrap myself up in. I fell in love with everybody and realized this would be a really safe place to be.
Tell me how you've been involved with TLC as a volunteer.
For the first four or five retreats I was a participant. Over the last three years, I've been doing workshops at the Retreat and the Conference. I've also been using photography as a way to get TTM awareness out there.
There was one point when I was going through a pretty bad relapse, and I decided to use that as an opportunity. I set up my camera and lights and made myself the subject of the photo to show people what I had done. I ended up running that as an ad in the Daily Oklahoman, which is the state's newspaper.
Then, while I was on a road trip last year, I stopped in at the TLC office in Santa Cruz and filmed a short public service announcement with Christina about trichotillomania and TLC. It is up on YouTube - if you search "Trichotillomania Public Service Announcement" it is the first thing that comes up.
Tell me about the workshops you give.
They are workshops for young adults and teenagers-usually first-timers at the Retreats or Conferences who are having trouble adjusting. I talk with them about my experience and start introducing them to others their age so they realize this isn't so bad. That was the big thing for me at my first TLC event, wondering, "Wow, would there be anyone here that I can relate to?" Now that I'm older and I see kids at the age I was when I started going, I just want to be able to give back.
I hope that will help encourage kids to come who have had the same worry.
They should!
Why have you remained an active part of the community all these years?
I believe I have two lives - the one outside TLC and the one with TLC. And the one with TLC has given me literally hundreds of friends, most of whom I consider family now, and the most love I've ever received from a group of people. And the first time I've been able to make a difference [in the world] has been through giving my time to TLC.
What role have your parents played for you?
My parents have always been very supportive. My mom attended the Retreats with me and allowed me to go in the first place. And my dad had been donating to TLC for years before he came to an event. The first time he went to an event was the Conference this past April. But he's able to see what I can see in TLC. That's enough for him to support TLC. I think that is just amazing.
What do you think are some of the ways TLC should be building or serving our community in the future?
The one thing we can do is really start to reach out through My Space, Facebook and YouTube to the younger generation. People are addicted to it! They are the way we communicate now. We had cell phones and now we have My Space. And using My Space and Facebook, you reach a broader group of people as well because it is worldwide.
I have friends in New Zealand and across the country, from Washington to Houston to Massachusetts. And in Canada! Truly all across the continent.
Favorite memory of your time with TLC?
My favorite memories are all of the same thing - spending time with friends after the day is done. I usually stay up all night at the Retreat, usually in the dining hall with other night owls. That's how I've met my closest friends - staying up all night and having deep conversations and getting to know people very personally.
Any special message for the guys out there?
I think guys are overlooked because they are afraid to speak up even more than girls are, because a lot of guys have this image... like females do. We do carry just as much shame as anyone else.
I guess my message to the guys would be the same as for everyone, "Speak up, let your voice be heard, and realize that you are not alone!"