Chapter 2: From the Victim of Abuse: Breaking Our Trust vs. Breaking Our Silence

I was a top female athlete. I ranked third in my high-school class. I led our JROTC program as battalion XO. I was captain of the cheerleading team and softball team. I was what some teachers would consider the ideal student, dominating on and off the field. I attended one of the lowest performing high schools in the state. Our dropout rate was 40%. So many of my classmates forfeited their education to the streets. I can’t say I blame them though. It’s hard to beat the odds that were never in your favor. If you ask me, it was the system’s intent to keep us in the hood where they thought we belonged.