When I was young domestic violence was always a big problem in my house. It seemed like everybody was always bruised and puffed up. But nobody really knew what was happening to my family because we always told lies and hid ourselves from the world. I was very tempted to talk to a counselor at my school, but I always had second thoughts about it because I didn't want to hurt any of my family members. One day though, after I didn't listen to my parents they beat me till they thought I couldn't be beaten anymore. While they were beating me I held my arms over my face to try to protect it, but they hit it anyway. Then I lay on the floor crying. My whole body was numb and I couldn't see very well from being bruised. My sisters tried comforting me and telling me stuff that wasn't true, but my dad yelled from the living room, "Leave her alone, let her be!" They didn't want to be beat either so they left the room. I lay in bed all the next day, and even though my friends called and asked if they could visit, I rejected them. I didn't want to be seen or even heard by anyone. I just wanted to find my own cave and hide in it. I really didn't care where I lived as long as I was out of that house.

One night when it was my turn to wash dishes I really didn't want to, so I stayed in my room and listened to music. It was kind of loud and I didn't hear my dad yelling at me. Suddenly he burst in and asked what was wrong with me! Then he yanked my stereo off my shelf and threw it against the wall. I was scared. For good reason because he came closer and kicked me in the stomach. I held my stomach and curled up into a little ball. Then he kicked my back and my neck. Gosh, why doesn't he just kill me? I thought to myself.

That night I couldn't sleep so I lay in my room thinking of what I should do. I couldn't just stay in that house and be a punching bag for my father. I was fed up with all that stuff. And yet I couldn't go to school because I was so bruised and hurt. That's when I finally got the courage to go to the counselor. We talked for hours about abuse and violence in my house. She suggested I leave home and go to a special school for self-defense in Anchorage. I agreed. I didn't want to tell my parents about my decision, so the night before I left I packed most of my clothes. Then I told my parents. They didn't agree with me, but they finally let me go. I was pleased, but unhappy because I had to leave my home and my friends.

When I got to Anchorage the instructors brought me to my dorm. While I attended classes they taught me how to defend myself and how to defend others that were being beaten. After that I was a really different person and wished I had taken the course earlier.

When I came back home the school teachers asked if I would talk to the students about violence in the homes, which I did. And because of what I told them about my course in Anchorage my parents stopped beating on us kids. My house is much more quiet and peaceful now. We do things much more freely and my family is much closer. I am thankful for what I did to make my family life easier and more peaceful.