VICTORIA EVERETT My name is Victoria Everett. By now you have read several submissions from other people and it seems wrong to not share my own story at this point. My life is pretty great as an adult- I have an awesome husband, I am a mom to two boys, a career in mental health that I’m very passionate about, and a part time photography business. 

But as a child I suffered from OCD and ADHD. I was in therapy and on medications. I literally vibrated with anxiety and energy as a child. I would wake up at 4 am and do work out videos my mom had on VHS to try to get rid of my nervous energy or copy books word for word in blank notebooks. 

Being a child with mental health issues also can make you a target for predators. He was charismatic, smart, and an expert at getting PR for the school. I think at the time, I didn’t understand how inappropriate it was. I was around 8 years old. I remember one day when I was leaving class he told me to bring my 2 piece swim suit to school tomorrow cause he needed to take photos of me for a school project on the human body. He said we were going to use the photos to labels the bones of the body. He said it with a big smile and wasn’t pushy.

When I got home my mom saw me putting the swim suit in my bag. She immediately asked, “What are you doing?” I told her what he had said, and she told that didn’t sound right and said I wasn’t allowed to take any photos especially not in my swim suit. I was so worried I was going to be in trouble because my teacher had told me to do it. The next day he was very disappointed but he said it was okay. I never heard anything else about the project.

When he was arrested he was living out of state but the news traveled fast. Investigators ascended on the school and I was pulled into a room for an interview. Apparently they found photos of me with what they found. But it was just me in the classroom. Nothing pornographic. (Trying to remember the interview to write this made me immediately feel nauseous.)

I told the investigators the only time I remember him trying to touch me other than a weird long shoulder rubs was when we were lining up for lunch at the door. I was at the back of the line being silly. He told me to stop and slapped my butt. I turned around and made a fist and punched him in the arm and said, “Don’t touch me.” He never tried again. The investigator told me he probably realized I was too outspoken to be messed with.

After talking to the investigators I had back lash at school. There’s was so many students, parents, and kids that knew him that didn’t want to believe it was true. I was told everyone was mad at me. I was called a liar. I didn’t tell anyone what I said but my mom, but I think it put a target on me to be called out of class for so long.

I think as a reaction to that I changed between overly confident in judging people in my life because I thought I had seen the devil smiling into my face already or overly cautiously thinking everyone was a user and ultimately a black soul. 

After graduating with a degree in Psychology, I was in a restaurant in my home town and ran into one of my elementary teachers. She stopped me and asked me what I did for a living and I replied, “I work with kids having mental health and behavioral issues.” She laughed and rolled her eyes at me and said, “that’s interesting...considering how difficult YOU were in school.”

I laughed it off and walked off but when I got back to work, I thought about it often. Anytime I met with a teacher and they spoke coldly about a child struggling, I pictured her missing all the signs that I needed help and strived even harder in my job. I would immediately see myself in that child slowly sliding through the cracks. Every kid I have ever helped had value despite how their behavior was at school.  

Sometimes it makes me sad to realize how much encountering a predator as a child still creeps up on me as an adult. Recently my kid went to a museum with some family and he wondered away for a few minutes. The first thing I asked when I got him in the car, “Did the person that found you touch you? Did they take photos of you?” I’m sure that sounds crazy for me to go to that so quick. I’m sure the volunteers and employees are good people but I wouldn’t have been able to sleep that night if I wasn’t sure.

I no longer have shame about what happened because I know now, as an adult, none of this was my fault or within my control. Someone told me he is up for parole soon. Which is weird thing to worry about because I’m older now but I worry about the kids he might hurt. It just doesn’t feel like he’s been in there long enough for all the things he has done.  

I no longer have crippling anxiety. I am off medication. My sweet husband, kids, family, and work keep me very busy. I am thankful to God for everything he has given me. I used to pray at night as a child for the life I have now. 

-Victoria Everett