“Since I have graduated from Grace House, I have surprised myself with what I have been able to accomplish. I am in my second year of college with a 4.0, I have what is hopefully my first of many writing jobs, I’ve written two books, and am continuing to sustain a healthy relationship with my boyfriend. They say “It works if you work it,” and they are right!
“It is a far cry from where I was eight or nine years ago, when I was vulnerable to exploitation. I was crashing on couches, trying desperately to make my dreams come true of becoming a successful, professional musician. Although I had a small but faithful following, I felt very lost and out of control.
“Unfortunately, the independent music scene can be very competitive and “cut-throat,” and at the time, the people who supported me were far and few between the people who ended up using me for their own careers. I was at such a low place that when a man coerced me into exploitation, I was eager to listen to him. False promises of networking, good company, and a glamorous lifestyle were very enticing at the time. However, after all was said and done, I was left homeless, jobless, and with my mental health worse than it was before. Today, it is hard for me to imagine how easy it was for me to listen to someone I didn’t really know, but not only did I listen — I completely changed my entire life just to be a part of his. I had to ask myself, “What was missing then, that is helping my life now?”
“The other day it occurred to me: I didn’t need support from my parents. I didn’t need people taking care of me. I needed respect and support from my peers. I needed encouragement and a common ground from people like me. Validation and acceptance from likeminded people were the missing ingredients to my self-actualization. Had I had the friendships and support that I have now through Alabaster Jar Project, things may have been very different for me.
“Anyone who has been a part of our weekly peer support group knows how much all of us survivors genuinely love and care about each other. On top of that, when the majority of staff members are survivors themselves, you have people who understand you there to help you. This is why AJP has such a high success rate. They are more than a recovery program; they have fostered a community so people like me never go seeking support from somewhere other than like minds. The friends I have met through Alabaster Jar project will remain my friends for life. When I have good news, they are there to celebrate. When things aren’t so good, they’re there to listen. As long as AJP is in operation, I will be a giver AND receiver in their strong circle of peer support.”
-Anonymous Survivor