Stressors can definitely affect a child’s
overall well being, affecting their, biosocial
development, cognitive development, and psychosocial development. I have a
personal stressor experience that I would like to share and hopefully I can
offer support or reassurance that it does get better with time and a strong
support system. When I was in seventh grade I was robbed at gun point on my way
to school, it was one of those cold winter days with thick layers of snow on
the ground. To make a very long story short, my perpetrator was 23 years old
and identified by myself along with several others girls in a police lineup,
which I learned he had actually kidnapped those girls and raped them. I felt so
blessed to not have been raped, but I also felt very sad for the other girls he
sexually violated. Violent crimes are crimes that hit a person very deep, I was
afraid to walk alone, always paranoid and constantly looking over my shoulders.
This crime still affects me as an adult because I never really feel safe; I always
lock the car doors, even while waiting in the car for my husband as he quickly
runs in seven eleven to the cash station. I may sometimes judge people for
looking as what I believe to be suspicious, my family especially my mother was
very supportive of me and helped to give me the belief that I will feel safe
again.
I looked
into violent crimes in London, (sex crimes in particular), and London has
launched the “Safer London Foundation” which tackles young men and sexual violence
against girls. The foundation works with young men at risk of becoming gang members,
discuss issues of sex, power and control, with the aim of helping them avoid
becoming involved in sexual crimes. I think that this is a great foundation,
because men who commit violent crimes are usually victims themselves or have
some dysfunctional family issues going on. This foundation reaches out to these
young men, by forming peer groups to help them discuss their issues and keep
them on the right track. I’ve attached the link below for anyone who wishes to
check out the website.
I am sorry to here about your experience. I have a friend who experience a similar situation and even as of today she still faces challenges. It really disturbing to me that anyone who is in authoritative roles feel that it is okay to take the advantages of innocence children who look for us as adults to protect them not do any harm to them. I have never be violated as and child or and adult but I take now in days how our society is we have to be precaution. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. May God continue to bless you and keep you safe.
ReplyDeleteThank you Yalanda!
DeleteOMG I am really surprised that a person would rob a seventh grader. I am also glad that it I didn't get any more dangerous. I really despise the fact how people exploit children sexually it really hurts to hears that when I think about my young neice, and nephew.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an experience. What kind of a person takes a small child on her way to school, and robs them by gun point. It really scares me the kind of world that we live in. I just don't understand how people can use children in such ways and get physically ill to even discuss the topic of children being exploited in sexual ways. I do like that places are taking a stand like you showed us here in London. It's good to see someone being proactive about these types of things instead of just waiting for something to happen and then do something about it when it's too late. Thank you for sharing your personal experience with us also, I am sure it took a lot to be able to share that.
ReplyDelete