High Schools & Colleges
Survivor, Speaker, and Bestselling Author Darlene Lekowski
High School & College Programs: Darlene is a survivor of childhood trauma who spent fifty years carrying a secret — and built a successful life anyway. She speaks to students about resilience, hope, and the courage it takes to let go of whatever is weighing them down.
As featured on…
Open the Box
A Student's Guide to Resilience, Courage & Hope
Ideal for:
Events themed around ‘consent’, high school assemblies, college orientation programs, campus mental health and wellness events, student leadership conferences, and Title IX and survivor advocacy programming
Description:
Every student in your audience is carrying something. It might be trauma, self-doubt, the pressure to perform, or a secret they've never told anyone — but whatever it is, they've learned to put it in a box and push it down. In this honest, relatable, and ultimately hopeful talk, Darlene Lekowski shares her own story of survival and shows students that the things we hide don't disappear — they wait, and eventually explode.
Drawing from fifty years of lived experience and her #1 bestselling memoir Shattering Silence, Darlene meets students exactly where they are and walks them toward something better: a life built on truth, self-acceptance, and forward momentum. This is not a lecture about what students should do. It's proof that letting go is possible — and that what's on the other side is worth it.
Students will leave with:
A human, non-clinical understanding of how unaddressed secrets and trauma affect mental health, relationships, and self-worth
A powerful metaphor — Pandora’s Box: for recognizing what they're carrying and taking the first steps to open it
The belief that resilience isn't something you're born with — it's something you build
Real Stories. Real Impact.
How Darlene's message is inspiring courage, healing, and change.
The Courage to Face Your Fears
"A key triggering event allowed her to find the courage to access her inner strength, empowering her to face her fears head on."
-Jeff Feller
Finding Strength in the Word “No”
"An inspiring story of resilience, healing, and finding the courage to say “No.” Powerful, engaging, and memorable."
- Teresa GermanStrength No Child Should Ever Need
"You can’t help rooting for little Darlene, who is stronger than any child should have to be."
- Tanya WhitworthA Story That Helps Others Feel Seen
"Darlene’s courage to share this story has the power to help others feel seen, understood, and less alone."
- Natalie HancockA Powerful Reminder That We Never Truly Know Someone’s Story
"We never truly know the stories people carry with them."
- Dawne FosterA Story of Strength and Courage
"It is a sobering but beautifully inspiring opportunity to walk in her shoes and open our hearts to her experience."
- Lauren WalshWorking with Darlene is simple
Step 1: Let Go
Schedule a 40-min call with Darlene to discuss your event, audience, and goals.
Step 2: Break Free
Darlene will propose a personalized presentation to exceed your expectations.
Step 3: Live Forward
Inspire your audience to embrace courage, reclaim personal agency, and move forward with renewed perspective, purpose, and hope.