Survivor Stories: The Beginning

My name is Charlotte. I am the current founder, author, and operator of studentsurvivorstories.com. In my first post, I thought it would be helpful to share parts of my individual story, more specifically the event that inspired me to create this resource.

I will admit, I still have an extremely difficult time engaging in discussion about my experience. Although it has been almost three years since my encounter, I often choose not to talk about it. This is a behavior I am working hard to overcome.

As I have shared in other parts of this website, I was a victim of an armed robbery involving a firearm. To protect the safety of myself and my loved ones, I have chosen not to speak in detail on this subject until I know it is safe. Giving specific names, places, and events could be dangerous, so for the time being I will speak vaguely. However, I will share what's most important: my personal feelings regarding the event.

After my encounter, I feel extremely lost. However, I didn't necessarily feel lost in the way you'd expect. My friends and family attempted to help me heal by discussing the event, but I wanted the complete opposite. I wanted to act like it never happened, like nothing had changed at all... even though I knew this wasn't true.

I struggled to find an answer as to why I wanted to disregard my experience completely. For the next two years, I continued to ignore it completely. Although I suffered from reoccurring flashbacks, I simply brushed it off. I wanted to believe that nothing had changed.

It took me years to finally acknowledge my experience. January of my junior year, I joined a survivor network on a popular website geared towards gun safety. I spent hours reading testimonies and experiences of people with stories like mine. At this moment, I realized something that changed my life: I am not alone, and my experience is a cause for change.

One month later, Student Survivor Stories was born. I disregarded my own emotions and experiences for so long. By hearing the stories of other people, I learned that my encounter is not something to be ashamed of, but instead something to be shared. Student Survivor Stories was created to help people with struggles like mine. This platform hopes to heal, help, and improve the lives of all victims.