The essay to review
The essay explores overcoming trauma and finding empowerment through personal experiences that inspire a commitment to change.
There’s a photo of me as a little girl taped to my bathroom mirror. In it, my smile is full of laughter and joy, but beneath that smile was a girl carrying the weight of confusion, fear, and betrayal. At the time, I couldn’t understand why I was going through such pain, especially when the one who should have protected me was the one causing it.
When I look at that photo now, I’m reminded of the days my father’s abuse seemed t...