“Many adults remember their teenage years as a time of lessons learned, opportunities revealed, and milestones reached. But for an unfortunate few, those same years were marked with trauma, abuse, impulsive mistakes, and harsh consequences. Whereas most feared detention or video game restrictions for their transgressions, many of us faced a lifetime in prison for ours. I often think back to that time in my own life and wonder, what would I say to my 16-year-old self to prepare her for the journey that lies ahead?”
Cyntoia Brown Long, A Word to My Younger Self