REFLECTION 4

First of all I would like to say thank you. Thank you not only for sharing your story, but also for sharing your outlook on life and all that comes with it. Your talk was so engaging and captivating, and I am happy to say I will be taking away numerous messages from it moving forward. As you said in your talk, people with lived experience have just as much – if not more – knowledge than those who just learn. You embody the message of wisdom from experience, while still being raw and real – I really admire that. One value I learned from my own family is that everything happens for a reason. As tough as some situations life throws at us are, it will lead us to where we’re meant to be. I feel this message really resonated with your talk because it appears that your life has led you to find your passion. The power and unapologetic honesty with which you spoke were refreshing to hear, and I could really tell that this is what you were meant to be doing. Your impact extends far beyond those in your community that you work with – it also impacts people like me: those who are fortunate enough to have not been in trafficking situations but are inspired by your qualities of perseverance, mental toughness, and integrity. Even when it gets tough, remember how far you have come being unapologetically yourself, and always keep doing exactly that. Once again, I really appreciate that you took the time to talk with us in Professor Jolluck’s class. It was definitely the highlight of the course thus far for me.