Eight USF students took to the stage Friday night to share their stories of their lived experiences with mental illness and substance use disorders. Many cast members of This Is My Brave - College Edition at USF chose to share their experiences through poetry. Hundreds of audience members filled the concert hall to support the cast and join the movement to eliminate stigma.
Three of the performers are CBCS students: Breanna Wade, Courtney Robichaud, and Angela Lucia Velasquez Velilla. Wade is a student in the School of Social Work, Robichaud is studying behavioral healthcare, and Velilla is pursuing a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling and disability sciences.
The show also welcomed two special guests, BJ Daniels and Christian Marquez. BJ Daniels, who now serves as the assistant director of development for community and donor engagement with USF Athletics, is a former NFL player, Super Bowl champion, and USF alum. He spoke about his upbringing, time in the NFL, and struggles he overcame along the way. Christian Marquez is a theater student at USF who performed in the first This Is My Brave show at the university. This year, he performed his original piece, "Tomorrow."
If you were unable to attend the show, you can still show your support here.