Shatter The Silence™

I started dating my first boyfriend when I was almost 15.  We innocently dated a few months and then broke up.
We went back out on a date and he was all over me. His best friend that was older drove us to a secluded park and got out of the car. I was caught off guard that he was making out with me heavily and immediately trying to unbutton my pants. He shoved his hand down my pants. I was panicked and frozen. He did not put his hands inside me but did not remove his hand from my pants right away.  After that he got out of the car and was whispering to his friend. They were both standing at the trunk and I was still in the car. I felt uncomfortable. I was nervous but I still liked him and I did right by stopping him. After a few months he started pressuring me into taking our relationship to the next level. (more…)

As a very young child who spent a lot of time online without any supervision, I was sexually abused by a huge multitude of men for over 5 years. I was used in child pornography, and was in potentially life-threatening situations on a regular basis. I grew up truly believing that I was a sexual object for men, and that was all I could ever be. The effects of this abuse led me to attempting suicide at the young age of 12. Thankfully, I survived and did not attempt it ever again. But I have lived with depression, anxiety, and a lack of self esteem. Being too ashamed to tell my story, I have kept it bottled up inside for years now. I hope that others know out there that they are not alone in suffering from childhood sexual abuse.

I woke up one morning after a night of drinking with a couple of trusted “friends” in a bed with my underwear pulled down, but my pants up and belt buckled. All I remember is my attacker, who is known to me, waking me up by kissing me and his hand down my pants inside of me. I tried to press criminal charges, but there was no physical evidence. I am now going through the university that I was attending to prove to this guy he can’t get away with this. Telling my story makes me stronger each time, because I know I did nothing wrong.

I was raped in November 2008. January 2011, I entered a courtroom and told the story of my rape. I told this story in front of many family and friends, and the man that rape me. I have struggled the past 2 years with many PTSD symptoms and after my testimony I thought my work was done. Boy, was I wrong. The jury ultimately found him not guilty, even though we had tons of evidence and his story didn’t make sense. I have now realized that my story did not end in that courtroom. I have many gifts and strengths to offer to my community. Results of the trial did nothing but empower me to do good things and spread the word about sexual assault.

When I was 14 I met someone who changed my life. We were together for 6 years. By year 2 he was verbally abusive as well as emotionally. I thought nothing of it. I was so young. By year 3 after an argument in the car he slammed my head against the glass window. Told me to never raise my voice at him again then proceeded to push me out of the car. It was mid day and I had to return to school. Once the school found out they called the police. And hauled him off, disregarding my plea for them to forget I even said anything. The next day was the hardest day of my life. (more…)