Name: Hannah Lee Duke
Hometown: Williamsville, NY (about as far as you can get from NYC whilst staying in state!)
Major: Undeclared, but I am focusing on Psychology, Media, Culture & Communications, and Creative Writing
Year: Sophomore
Favorite movie: Probably “Black Swan,” but anything by Darren Aronofsky.
Favorite show: Mad Men
Favorite quote: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” (from the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley).
Favorite person: I don’t just have one, but I can collectively say my parents. They are my anchor, my friends and my inspiration.
Go-to for Relaxation: Yoga. I wouldn’t say the type I practice is relaxing in the classic sense of the word, but it is rigorous and centering. I can usually put whatever else is going on aside and sweat it out for an hour at Lyon’s Den.
Fun Fact: I sang opera quite seriously and almost went to a music conservatory instead of an academic institution.
HC NYU: Last semester, you courageously posted your story about battling anorexia on Facebook. Why did you choose to post it and what reactions have you gotten back?
HD: I had returned from an intense week of Baptiste Yoga training, which involved very intense physical and mental work. As a proud yogi, I realized I was lying to nearly everyone I knew, both about why I started yoga and why I took a gap year between high school and college. I knew I could never be the impactful, inspiring yoga teacher I wanted to be without coming clean to my yoga community about why I began my practice. It was so liberating to tell my phenomenal yogi friends my story; they were inspired and not judgmental. Some even bravely reached out and shared their stories with me. So I took it to all of my “friends” on Facebook. It was the place I knew could reach the maximum amount of people, and I definitely did. I got hundreds of messages. Some were supportive, a few were not. More importantly, I got to address the concerns of countless individuals who felt as if they may be suffering or knew they were in the midst of an eating disorder. I had the privilege of talking to these people via the internet or in person and directing them to sources of help. That is an irreplaceable feeling. The power of one person speaking up and sharing their story has no limits.
HC NYU: Many people turn to you for advice on Tumblr. How do you choose which questions to answer and how to answer it? Is there a secret formula behind all those wise answers?
HD: Definitely not! No secret formula, but thank you. Honestly, sometimes the amount of questions is a bit overwhelming, so I try to choose ones that are commonly asked and put a lot of thought into those.
HC NYU: Most of the questions tackle body image. Do you feel there’s an overwhelming issue on body image, where girls on both ends of the spectrum are discontented with their bodies?
HD: Unfortunately, body image issues can affect anyone, both men and women. However, I definitely do feel that women in particular have a lot of societal pressure to attain a body that is far outside the genetic norm. Even for those who fall in the .01% of said genetic norms (think models and actresses), body tweaking, perfecting, and dissatisfaction are just as encouraged. If women are discontented with their bodies, so much can be sold, and so many voices can be silenced. Women who want to discuss politics, activism, the stock market and their families—you name it—are being sedated into a lifetime of counting calories and ounces. I see it more in Manhattan than anywhere else I have been. I am surrounded by brilliant, kind women here at NYU, and—eating disordered or not—I constantly hear the all-too-familiar breed of unproductive, depressing conversation surrounding body hatred and criticism. I do believe negative body image is only one of the many factors that can lead to EDs, but it is also responsible for a good amount of what is—quite frankly—an eating disorder epidemic at NYU.
HC NYU: Where do you see yourself in the next few years? Any particular future goals?
HD: I think I am starting to realize that the present is where it’s at. The future is so incredibly unpredictable. Goals are necessary and important, but I have learned to focus more on what I can do now in this very moment. If I’m lucky enough to still be surrounded by amazing family and friends and be in good health, I’ll be happy.