I am a two-time sexual assault survivor. Oddly enough, it has only been in recent time that I actually realized that the sexual assaults were just that — assaults. I have only recently also recognized that I was a victim as well as a survivor. It was the #MeToo and the #WhyIDidntReport movement and the attention paid to Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony that helped me recognize what happened to me in my past and also inspired me to finally share my story. Since then, I have vowed to not remain silent on this topic. I believe women when say they have been sexually assaulted or raped because no matter what anyone thinks or says, any perceived “benefit” the woman may get as a result of reporting it is far, far outweighed by the amount of slut shaming they receive as a result. This is what keeps women from reporting and therefore living their lives silent, hurt, and confused like I did. I came across a song shared on social media that expressed the sentiment behind this beautifully. The song is “Quiet” by Milck. It is powerful and moving. I hope women everywhere hear it and know that when they speak up and out, they will have an army of women with them, hearing them, supporting them. No woman should ever have to keep quiet. We keep hoping that the culture will change, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. So I must be the change, and I will not be quiet.