THE STORIES
Sarah’s story
At first 18-year-old Sarah didn’t see the warning signs. But that changed when her boyfriend hit her in a room full of people.
Up to that point, Sarah put the blame on herself for her boyfriend’s jealousy and possessiveness… or she’d make excuses: “I would tell myself he was drunk or I shouldn’t have been talking to that person – I just kind of shoved it to the side,” she says.
With the help of friends, Sarah was finally able to end the relationship. She then enrolled herself in a teen violence prevention program, supported by the Canadian Women’s Foundation, to ensure that she had broken the cycle of abuse for good. Through the program she learned about the warning signs of an abusive relationship, what can trigger abusive episodes, how to handle herself in different situations and how to define her personal boundaries. Most importantly, Sarah was taught the characteristics of a healthy relationship: communication, trust and mutual respect. “My parents had conversations with me about relationships,” she says, “but they never ever mentioned anything like that.”
Today Sarah encourages friends to enroll in the program and credits it with giving her a healthy outlook on relationships. “If I had had this a couple of years ago, I probably never would have gotten into the situations I was in”.
