Many years ago I was a victim of Teen Dating Violence. I abhor that label "victim" because it does not describe me. I am a survivor and the journey that I have had the privilege to travel is one worthy of being shared.

Over the past couple of months I have been invited to speak at schools where I live and am now booking into next year for future speaking events. The students have been (and will be), introduced to my experiences through the reading of an excerpt from my book, Tornado Warning A Memoir Of Teen Dating Violence And Its Effect On A Woman's Life, followed by a workshop I call, LoveSTRUCK, which covers healthy and unhealthy relationships, and strategies for safely ending unhealthy relationships. If I can reach even one student per every seminar I facilitate then we are that much closer to ending Teen Dating Violence.

Prevention through education is powerful; the feedback I have received from the students has served to underscore the staggering statistics available on Teen Dating Violence. I know I am helping them which makes every step I have taken in this journey called 'my life experiences'  worth it because it means a young person today is inspired to live a life free from violence.