Why did you choose to tell this story?

Once I got the email, I knew right away what I wanted to talk about, feeling unprotected, a feeling that I had when I was little and still have today. Regardless of feeling unprotected, it’s important that you know you can find support, because you have to believe in yourself and to keep on going.

Do you feel you have contributed or given something to other women?

Yes, the most important thing is that what happens to you, happens to others, to feel that you are not alone. Listening to other women’s stories helped me talk about my story, and it gave me strength to keep going and to help women who have been silenced by men and the system and to help stop these situations in the future.

Has participating in this workshop impacted you?

The most important thing was listening to the other stories and bonding with the other girls. I was shocked to listen to their stories. I knew them only as classmates, and their stories and conflicts gave me compassion for them, myself, and all of us.