What would you dosay if I told you there are 27 million slaves worldwide.worldwide? How would you respond if I told you there are more slaves now thenthan when Lincoln was alive and they’re not all black and they’re usually not men, but sisters, mothers, and little children.children?

Worthless. Weak. Whores. Branded with labels, tattooed across their neck. Lost. Afraid. No longer can finddo they know who they are anymore. In January of 2016, I discovered one of the most life altering stories I had heard in my fifteen years. The one that would develop me into the person I am today.
As I came into high school in 2015, I was on the varsity cheer squad and was automatically held to a higher standard. I was obligated to hold myself to this standard, not only for representingto represent my school, but foralso the athletic boys I cheered for. I was told by my senior cheer captain that “we, “We do not have ugly cheerleaders and you must always look put together.” Every moment forward, I did exactly that: I put makeup on, fixed my hair, and never had a “lazy day.” In reality, this led me to believingbelieve that my superficial appearance was the most important thing and not who I was on the inside. This notion led me to being thoughtless, condescending, and ultimately a person that no one wanted to be around. I soon noticeddecided that the person I was becoming was not who I wanted to be.