I am a forty five year old, African-American mother of two handsome and talented young men. I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I attended LSU and have spent the bulk of my adult life in business management, however, once I reached my 40's, the Lord led me to the field of education. I have changed careers, and now serve as a Math Instructor in an Adult Education Program. I am honored to be teaching basic math, algebra and geometry to teens who are working towards obtaining their GED's.
I am the oldest of my parents' two children--my younger sister is the better settled of the two of us, but I'm getting there. I have an 8 year old nephew who has brought a great deal of joy to my life--I thoroughly enjoy spoiling him. I am also the proud grandmother of an absolutely beautiful 5 year old girl and a 3 year old boy. I never thought being a grandmother would be this much fun. I am an avid reader of suspense novels and I get a lot of pleasure from swimming--especially in the Gulf of Mexico.
I am also a survivor of sexual assault.
I wasn't always comfortable with that label, but after years of therapy and support group participation and anxiety medication, I was finally able to accept and appreciate it.
My interest in rape prevention stemmed from my personal experiences. I was fortunate to be able to help other survivors when I became active at my local rape crisis center--the same center which first helped me in my time of crisis. After training to become a crisis counselor, I met many women who had stories which were similar to my own. As a result, rape prevention has become an important mission in my life--reaching as many people as possible with the available facts is my ultimate goal.
Writing has always been an important part of my life. It became an outlet for me after I started to heal from the wounds of my life's trauma. Once I discovered the internet, I was blessed with the opportunity to meet even more people who were willing to share their experiences. It was during those times that my writing became more than just an outlet...it became a tool to help others.
I authored <strong><em>Rape: Prevention and Survival</em></strong> here at Suite101 from September 2000 through December 2001. When my work schedule became too hectic for me to continue writing, I had to go on hiatus, but I always hoped that I would have the opportunity to pick up where I left off. Fortunately, that time has arrived.
I spend an average of 3 hours online per day, reading and posting to various message boards, working on my various online projects, and chatting with others who have had similar interests to mine. I am looking forward to sharing what I've learned with you, and I encourage your comments. God bless you.