By: Sabrina Stovall
Everyone has the “that would NEVER happen to me” mentality when it comes to personal tragedies. People feel that way because it may be hard to admit there is bad in this world – it’s especially hard to admit there are bad people around us.
I was raped.
When you look at it those words they seem so few, so simple, but nobody talks about how complex that small phrase actually is. It’s saying more than “I was sexually assaulted.”
It’s saying, “Someone took a piece of my soul when I was in my most vulnerable moment.”
It’s saying, “Someone couldn’t respect me enough.”
It’s saying, “Someone was so hungry for some kind of power over me they prioritized that over taking out a part of me.”
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, every year 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted while in college. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, about 65 percent of rapes will go unreported annually.
The trauma of being sexually assaulted can leave you feeling helpless, alone and hopeless.
It can leave unpleasant memories or nightmares or even terrible flashbacks. The most important thing to remember is:
IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.
There is nothing you could have done differently that would have prevented that situation, nor did you do anything to have made that person hurt you the way they did.
People will ask if you were drinking, or if you had been doing drugs, or if you had on a provocative outfit. The fact is, none of that matters. Regardless of the circumstances, being a victim of sexual assault is not and will never be your fault.
However, the way you let the assault affect you is your choice. Being a victim of your circumstances is a choice and something you have complete control of. You have the power to wake up the next day and say, “Even though this person took a piece of me, I won’t let them take my future.”
You have the power to change your mindset when it comes to your assault and say, “Even though that person hurt me, I will not let them hurt my future.”
Nancy Robinson, a licensed psychologist at Texas Tech University, said when it came to facing your sexual assault it is critical for survivors to know they are not alone.
“The school has so many fantastic resources to help victims overcome their hardships,” Robinson said.
Texas Tech has multiple on-campus resources when it comes to overcoming victimhood. There are counselors who you can talk to for free who are trained to help you work through your problems and get you the proper help you need for your situation. The school also has various support groups where you can meet other students and learn there are many others facing the same challenges you are.
It’s important to remember that you are not alone, and anything that happened to you was not your fault. It’s OK to admit your sexual assault happened, it may take time, but facing your problem head-on and figuring out the best way to cope with it will help ensure that although someone took a small piece of you, they didn’t take away the bigger part of the life you have yet to come.
For more information regarding the on-campus counseling, or to speak with a consular directly visit the website at www.depts.ttu.edu/scc or call to schedule an appointment (806)742-3674.
Visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center for more information.
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