It is not my fault

One day I was in school and I decided to hang out with a couple of friends. We decided to ditch class and have some fun. We were all A students and decided to take a break from out class. We decided to go into the basement and just hangout and have some fun. One kid decided that he would take me aside to talk. I was flattered that a boy wanted to talk to me and so I followed him. We went into the locker room and he started to take his pants off. I had a feeling what was going to happen. He started to kiss me and I didn’t know what to do so I let him kiss me. I froze and he did things to me that was unpleasant and not wanted. I was disgusted and did not know what to do. That day I went home crying and couldn’t believe what had happen to me. I was the good kid that these types of things were not suppose to happen. I went into school the next day and told my counselor what happen. She told me that it was my fault because I went with him down to the basement. I believed that it was my fault and I just broke down. I went to the police station and gave my story to a male detective. I couldn’t believe that this was happening to me. To this day I still believe that it is a little bit my fault. He took my identity and virginity. With a large amount of therapy I have come to be ok with my self and I am learning that this is not my fault. My advice to victims is that take the courage and speak out against predators. This is not your fault and stand up against Rape.

— Survivor, age 15