Madison’s Story
You never consider that it could be you. Sexual assault, for me, used to be a problem to be faced by others. I operated in my daily life with the belief that I was invincible. I never really doubted my safety and I believed that everyone I knew had the purest of intentions. The world was my oyster as a young college student. I was determined to begin a journey toward thriving.
So, I decided to study abroad in Scotland as part of an illustrious academic program. It happened in my dorm room. In a foreign land, in a temporary living situation, someone who I believed to have pure intentions took my power away from me. Wait.. me? Sexual assault was never supposed to happen to me! Was I making it up? Was it my fault?
Could I have done anything to stop it?My worldview was turned on its head. In the immediate, I couldn’t speak to anyone, I couldn’t do anything. There was no scenario in which I would’ve reported. I holed up in my dorm room and at some point chopped off my hair, dying it black for some semblance of control over myself. I didn’t tell anyone — not even my closest friends or family members — for years.Today, I spend every day advocating for survivors because I know now that sexual assault can happen to anyone. No matter how safe we think we are, a person is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds and 77% of them decide against reporting.
Through my company, @ledahealth, I aim to empower survivors with the opportunity to heal on their own terms. My experience with sexual assault has affected my relationships and my view of myself. It continues to do so in perpetuity. But if I can help just one survivor get one step closer to recovering from their experience, I am totally satisfied.
Madison Campbell
