We’re halfway through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) and we are going strong! Out for the Napa Lighted Art Festival? Be sure to check out our TDVAM Window Display at the DA’s office on First Street, across from the “Entwined Napa” exhibit in Dwight Murray Plaza. You can click on this link to the Napa Valley Register Article “Community Voices: NEWS Commemorates Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month” to find out more about the window display and our collaborations with NVUSD and La Cheve Bakery and Brews.

Listen to our TDVAM Ad from KVYN Radio HERE.
Listen to our TDVAM Ad from KVON Spanish Radio HERE.

This is Laura’s story, presented to you by Karla Salazar, her YOUth Matter healthy relationships coach. YOUth Matter coaching is available at all middle and high school Wellness Centers in the NVUSD. We have a 24/7 help line at (707) 255-6397, or teens can direct message us on InstaGram @NEWS4Peace.

Laura is a senior in high school who is getting ready to enter the next adventure in her life. I met her in the beginning of her senior year after checking in with last year’s students. When we met for the first time, I could tell she was a bit closed-in and didn't want to talk. However, throughout our conversation she started to open up and feel safe enough to share her current situation with me.

Laura was in a three year relationship with her boyfriend. She started sharing that she believes her relationship with him was healthy at first but not so much now. Throughout our meetings, we started pointing out the red flags, and one day she came in and said she was ready to let go. It was time.

She broke up with him and a few weeks later got back together with him. She knew she wasn’t happy anymore, and wasn’t sure why she kept going back. We talked about it, and she realized why she kept going back. She was used to him and felt like she invested so much time so she would just stay. It’s not always so bad. I gave her a couple of workbooks when she told me she really wanted to break up for good. One of those books is about breakups and how to get through them. When I saw her again after giving her that workbook, she thanked me and said the book was helping her hold herself accountable to not get back with him. She took measures like removing him from her social media, blocking his phone number, and changing passwords to accounts that were shared.

In the end, she was able to walk away for good and focus on herself and her senior year. Her situation at home is not the best, and she had so many other responsibilities in her life. I told Laura that I was beyond proud of her and the growth that has occurred in just a few months. She should be very proud of herself as she is the one who took the leap and continued to put in the work to better herself. She told me thank you for all the help and I reminded her that all of this was HER, with a little help from us. 

To access our YOUth Matter Self Referral Form, please click HERE.