Mental Health: People Pleasers—People Who Want to Please Everyone

The young author Anna Dimitrova was a guest in Siegen as part of the “YoungPoetry” program. The Paul Maar Prize winner read from her award-winning young adult novel *PeoplePleaser* at the Evangelisches Gymnasium (9th grade) and the Fürst-Johann-Moritz-Gymnasium (10th grade). The title is also a diagnosis: A “People Pleaser” is someone who wants to please everyone and, in doing so, systematically puts the needs of others before their own. People Pleasers find it very difficult to say no. The protagonist, Anna—who has just started her 12th-grade year at a Munich high school—knows this all too well. Anna—like the author—is from Bulgaria. She comes from a family of women who “never sit down.” Anna’s friend Teona is from Romania. For economic reasons, her biological parents placed her in the care of her childless aunt and uncle in Germany. This triggered fears of being abandoned. Anna seeks therapy sessions to gain the (professional) knowledge needed to help her friend. This works only to a limited extent.

Anna Dimitrova’s language reflects that of today’s youth. It’s fresh and unconventional. That’s exactly what went over very well with the young audience. The audience was highly engaged. Anna Dimitrova not only read from her book but also introduced her audience to the practices of screenwriting. The author is a graduate of the Munich University of Television and Film and works as both a screenwriter and a novelist. Through her presentation, she successfully gave an impressive overview of both professions. Her two books—“Kanak Kids” and “People Pleaser”—are set to be adapted for film soon. Preparations are underway. Anna Dimitrova skillfully engaged her audience with questions about the text and the plot.

Following the readings, there were many questions and a lively discussion about perspectives, working methods, brainstorming, and much more.

YoungPoetry is funded by the Christa and Dieter Lange Foundation.