Survivor, to me, means that you have gone through trauma, trials, tribulations, and you can look yourself in the mirror and say that I survived that. I would not consider myself a survivor yet. I'm surviving.It’s been a year since my life blew up. There are still things that I'm untangling.

The fact that my abuser was another woman, I think is really hard for people.

One thing that I would tell someone who is healing from abuse is that your love includes yourself. You can love your children. You can even love your abuser. But you got to love yourself more.

I speak as someone who has a master's degree in business.

I speak as someone who identifies as queer.

I speak as someone who is a mother to not only their own children, to bonus children that I've gathered along the way.

I speak as a teacher and a leader and a peer.

I speak as a sister. I speak as a daughter.

I speak for my daughter. I speak for my sons.

I speak for myself. I have to say that a few times because it's that important. I speak for myself. I speak for myself.