Date of Award
Spring 2022
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Nursing
First Advisor
Duncan Barlow
Second Advisor
Prentiss Clark
Third Advisor
Lesli Olson
Keywords
Schizophrenia, Mental Illness, Creative Writing, Fiction, Short Fiction
Subject Categories
Fiction
Abstract
To Live With is a story about an individual, Charlie, living with schizophrenia. The story follows Charlie as he grows up, from a time of no definitive signs of schizophrenia to his first major episode and the consequences that follow. I utilized knowledge and research stemming from my nursing education to create a character meant to connect with readers in a way that broadens their view on mental illness. This story only shows one view of what living with schizophrenia may be like and is in no way intended to encompass all of schizophrenia. I searched for ways to show symptoms of the diagnosis in my writing that built up the character into their own person, a method that prevents the character from being defined by schizophrenia. The condition is not something that explains, drives, or hinders his life, but rather, is something that he lives with as he creates his own way of being in the world. My intent was, and still is, to create and bring to life an impactful character that shows there is not, and never will be, one way to categorize individuals, despite what they may or may not be dealing with in that moment.
Recommended Citation
Lund, Serina, "To Live With" (2022). Honors Thesis. 240.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/240