Nicole Stephens 

After the justice system failed me, I was left bouncing from blaming myself to blaming the world around me. Neither were healthy and it took a lot of work and counseling to combat the PTSD and terrible inner-critic. “Survivor” started as a source of immense shame and guilt and has transformed over the years into a badge of resiliency, courage, and self-awareness. It has provided me with a platform to advocate for victims and survivors. Do I still get triggered over a decade later? Absolutely! Do I have the faith in myself to know I can get through it? You bet!