I want to share some of the feedback I received from the teens who came to my presentations, "Our Throwaway Teens: Who Are They and How Can We Help?" These comments are so important as they reflect a teen's view on abuse and neglect today!
TEENS SAY
"I thought you did a nice job on your presentation. I must say I didn't feel very affected by it simply because I know so many people already who are in abusive stiuations. However, I could tell that the adults around me were. It's great that you are making this effort to spread awareness. We both know that an actual solution will be a horribly difficult thing to put into play. Keep up the good work :)"
"Your presentation was powerful, however I do feel the statistics were way too low. Even as it was though, it provided a great amount of insight into the world of a throwaway teen. The only thing I can think of that would make it more powerful would be more firsthand accounts of your life or of others teens. I think it is wonderful that you took the hard life you've had and have turned it around so you can help others. Good luck!"
"It was a presentation filled with information that got you thinking and feeling about things you had not before. It gave so much information that I didn't know and opened my eyes to the issues of throwaway teens."
"The thing that struck me the most about the presentation was how many "throwaway" teens there are. It made me start thinking about other kids I know who might be going through those kind of things, and now I know why/how to sympathize and have extra compassion for those kids."
"It was very informative and the visuals were good. I liked how you showed ways to help these teenagers and how easy it is to help."
"I love the recordings, it brought the facts to life. I didn't feel you were trying to pressure me to feel something. I just did."
"I thought it was great. It was very emotional, yet very informational. I can really relate to lots of people and their own struggles."
"Your presentation was very interesting. I enjoyed all that I learned from it and it reached my heart. Powerful, disturbing, informative."
"It was an eyeopening experience to the realities of life and the stuff we don't all see. It brought me to a completely different world and I learned so much. Good presentation."
"Your presentation was really informative. It was also very emotional. I could tell how much of your emotions you put into it."
"Your presentation was very moving. The images and dramatic readings gave the presentation a new dimension that allows for your listener to connect to the situations."
"The presentation did a good job at shedding light on an unfortunately hidden problem."
"Powerful, moving presentation... For those of us who lived it, I hope we can help to save others from going through the same."
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THIS IS FROM THE AUTHOR OF ONE OF THE NARRATIVES I USED IN MY PRESENTATION. HE SAW HOW HIS STORY COULD HELP OTHERS. HE IS AMAZING!
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"I really liked your presentation. It was close to me because I've gone through similar accounts. I thank you for using my essay."
All my love and thanks for these comments and for coming to listen to such a hard topic. Also, for being willing to see how you can possibly help.
Dawn