JR Martinez served as a soldier in Iraq and suffered horrific burns. His injuries ended his military career and left him scarred and disfigured for life. He initially showed many of the negative effects that come after experiencing trauma. But he decided to follow his dream of becoming an actor and got it. Eventually became a TV celebrity, a magazine cover star, or motivational speaker.
In Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid, few Trojans survive the destruction of their city at the hands of their Greek enemies. A prince, Aeneas, leads a band of those fleeing Troy - but the journey is fraught with deadly storms and hungry monsters.
But Aeneas takes a positive view of the struggles he and the other Trojans face, telling them to be proud of their resilience and courage. With the help of MIT classics professor Stephanie Frampton, Dr Laurie Santos explores how The Aeneid can be read as a tale of post-traumatic growth and how we can sometimes emerge happier and stronger from tragic events.
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