![]() I’ve been trying to face things head on.“Parents of Survivor and Advocate, Chessy Prout, speak out in order to shift the conversation about Rape Culture” I wasn’t about to let that be something I delegated to the darkest corners of my mind that I try not to remember, because that is so unhealthy. I told my parents, I was bound to make the completely traumatizing experience of having to be in the courtroom for two weeks and turn that into something positive. Prout poses with the paper cranes sent to her by former classmates and church members in Japan, where she lived until she was 12. That’s been something else that’s been really empowering for me, being able to fight and seek justice as a prosecuting attorney in real courtrooms has been really cool. I had always been looking for self-defense classes to teach myself that when I’m put in situations that are scary like that again, I can fight and protect myself.Īt school, I’m part of my theater class. I did give up some of my sports this year, but I did take up a new one: boxing. Paul's School did not respond to TODAY's repeated request for comment.)īesides being an advocate for victims and human rights, do you ever have time to just be a teenager? Do you ever have time for hobbies? They need to own up to it, so that more young women don’t have to be at risk there. We're fighting for change - social change and cultural change at this school. I mean, this is the safety of kids that’s at stake here. Hirschfeld, I don’t understand why you’re doing this to our family.” He said, “Sometimes, I don’t even understand the lawyers either.”īut this is so beyond myself and so beyond my anger towards them, so beyond my family’s hurt, my physical hurt and my mental hurt. It was great to see you being able to speak out like that." But oh, Chessy, it was so nice seeing you on the television show! I’m glad you’re feeling so much better. He said, “I didn’t think it would be you picking up. Hirshfeld." He sounded very surprised to hear me. I picked up the phone and said, "Hello Mr. Right after the TODAY show interview came out, I was sitting there crying with my mom and my dad, and we got a phone call from the rector of the St. Paul’s, arguing it failed to protect children entrusted to its care. In June, your family filed a civil lawsuit against St. The new normal is speaking and making new relationships everywhere I go with new people, always being open to teach and learn and speak with other people. MORE 'Voices 2016': Mom talks grief - and Berlin truck attack - 5 months after losing son, husband in Nice, France We have to contact her,” because they had gone through something very similar. She came home that night after something traumatic and her parents were watching “Nightly News” and saw my story. The day of her abuser’s sentencing was Aug. It really broke my heart, fixed it and then gave me so much hope. Prout spoke at the event, along with other teenage survivors. ![]() Prout poses with students at Georgetown Day School, which hosted the Washington Area Independent School Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent. I went there with another young woman, and we both spoke on a panel there, telling people our stories and hopes for the future. It was really powerful to be in a roomful of supportive people who all felt the same as me.Īnd then a couple of weeks ago, we were in Arlington, Virginia, to kick-start this high school’s healthy relationships task force. I got to answer questions and tell my story. They invited me to speak in front of people from the World Health Organization and these great big global organizations and companies. ![]() ![]() They were holding a 72-hour special conference on International Day of the Girl to speak about how important the first 72 hours are after a sexual assault. The first public speaking engagement I was lucky enough to be a part of was for Together for Girls. What other advocacy efforts have you participated in these past four months? You launched the I Have the Right To campaign on the day of your interview, with help from PAVE (Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment). Prout speaking on a panel for Together For Girls, a global partnership aimed at eliminating sexual violence against children. ![]() I wanted them to know there are people who are ready to embrace them and help them out. I think it’s so important.”Īnd that was what I wanted out of the whole thing, to be sort of a lighthouse, a light where people could come if they had any issues, or if they wanted to talk about things if they didn’t feel comfortable sharing with their family or school. Everybody was trying to reach out to me, trying to either tell me their stories, or just say, “Thank you for doing that. When I came home after the interview aired, kids at school were coming up to me left and right and texting me. Paul's School assault survivor, sheds anonymity in TODAY exclusive ![]()
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