Silent
Throughout high school the fine arts hall had always been my safe place. Whether I was playing my clarinet in the band room, learning a new instrument in the orchestra room, or working on a new creation in the art room, I have always felt welcomed and safe.
My junior year of high school, I was doing extremely well. I eagerly took the new academic opportunities offered to me and finally started to overcome my anxiety disorder. In addition to my perfect attendance, my hard work prior to that year paid off and I had been inducted into National Honor Society. I even auditioned for the high school musical.
A few months later, my smooth sailing year came to a screeching halt. In the same hallway, I had once called my safe place and home, I was sexually assaulted by my ex boyfriend. For weeks I had blamed myself for not preventing it. I had fought him at first, but my struggles failed me. Within seconds I froze and my mind blanked. I was a prisoner in my own body, silent. For weeks I had stayed silent, keeping the horrific event for myself mostly because I was afraid of what people would say. …show more content…
They encouraged me to reach out to a teacher, I had been close with for years. Once again I stayed silent, not speaking, but showing him a note, typed out on my phone. The following day, I stayed after class and let my emotions come flooding out. For the first time in a month of holding it all in, I no longer chose to be
Throughout high school the fine arts hall had always been my safe place. Whether I was playing my clarinet in the band room, learning a new instrument in the orchestra room, or working on a new creation in the art room, I have always felt welcomed and safe.
My junior year of high school, I was doing extremely well. I eagerly took the new academic opportunities offered to me and finally started to overcome my anxiety disorder. In addition to my perfect attendance, my hard work prior to that year paid off and I had been inducted into National Honor Society. I even auditioned for the high school musical.
A few months later, my smooth sailing year came to a screeching halt. In the same hallway, I had once called my safe place and home, I was sexually assaulted by my ex boyfriend. For weeks I had blamed myself for not preventing it. I had fought him at first, but my struggles failed me. Within seconds I froze and my mind blanked. I was a prisoner in my own body, silent. For weeks I had stayed silent, keeping the horrific event for myself mostly because I was afraid of what people would say. …show more content…
They encouraged me to reach out to a teacher, I had been close with for years. Once again I stayed silent, not speaking, but showing him a note, typed out on my phone. The following day, I stayed after class and let my emotions come flooding out. For the first time in a month of holding it all in, I no longer chose to be