This is the letter I could not write for forty-six years. It is the story of a life lived in the space you left behind, a silence I am now ready to fill with my own words. I was born on a...
Claiming Your Power
Breaking the Mold
I am so afraid to speak publicly about how far I have come away from the traditional, religious, conservative upbringing I had. I am more than proud of who I’ve become, but in my...
Invincible
For a long time I never really knew how bad my life truly was. Yet, I am still very thankful for the experience of life. When I was a child I was sold off and abused by my parents. When I...
This is my story
I grew up knowing i would be dead before 18. I grew up in a house full of hatred. I grew up in an adoptive home where I felt worthless unloved and like a complete burden. I grew up...
Determined to Succeed
Growing up, I was always taught that education is a privilege and to have an education is an honor. Having the opportunity to obtain new knowledge every day is a blessing to have as there...
Embers Of Bravery: From Darkness To Light
Trigger warning: Before reading this post, please be aware that it contains references to childhood sexual abuse. It often begins subtly, almost sweetly—the extra attention feels like a...
Ria’s Stand Against Cyberbullying
Hi, I’m Ria. In my freshman year, I was cyberbullied along with other kids on an Instagram account under our school’s name right before our finals. I was stressed and worried...
My childhood sexual abuse story.
Trigger warning: Before reading this post, please be aware that it contains references to childhood rape and other experiences of sexual assault. I was 9 and homeless, living in a farmhouse...
A Future Full of Hope: How Cancer Led Me to My True...
I never imagined that a cancer diagnosis would redefine my life in the most unexpected way. When I was diagnosed in 2012, my world shattered. The fear, uncertainty, and physical toll of...
Let not what you have faced define you and your...
I am a young woman from Mkoba, a prosaic location in Gweru, Zimbabwe, raised by my resilient siblings and my courageous, ailing single mother—a family whose unwavering strength inspired...