The college years are years where many friendships are made and

many friendships are broken. One fight in an apartment, dorm or

bar could lead to weeks, months or even years of the silent

treatment.

Karola Alford, assistant professor in the Counseling Center,

has set out to try to teach students how to forgive and forget.

“Planting the Seeds of Forgiveness” is a workshop designed to

teach students steps to forgiving whoever has wronged them,

Alford said. The workshop begins at 7:30 p.m. in the

Charleston/Mattoon Room of the Martin Luther King Jr.

University Union.

Alford said she will first define exactly what forgiveness is

and isn’t and then continue the discussion by giving students

steps they can take if forgiveness is their goal. She will give

students concrete steps to take and suggestions to use to begin

the process of forgiveness.

Alford said she realized an hour is not enough time to heal the

hurt some students have felt in past relationships.

“Some things are just way too big to take care of so quickly,”

she said.

However, she said this workshop can be a starting point for

those who do want to begin the process.

Alford said she plans to hit on why it is important to forgive

and the benefits of forgiveness.

“(Forgiveness) can help you be a healthier person, and it can

help you to trust people again,” she said. “I’d like students

to be able to learn to let go of resentments so they can live

fuller happier lives.”