Rayna’s Photography Dream

Hello, everyone, my name is Rayna and today I would like to tell you my story. Over the past two years I have been through quite a bit. In December of 2014, something happened to me that not many people know, I was raped by my cousin. Considering who it was, I never really told anyone except my best friend. After a few months, my friend decided to call an anonymous hotline at our school and tell them what happened to me. I was called into the counselor's office and asked if it was true. I panicked, I broke down, and I told them what had happened. They then called in a local police officer and I had to tell him my story.

That was almost two years ago and I'm currently still dealing with this court case. I go back to court on September, 6 to see if the case is going to trial or not.

Since all of this has happened, my father's side of the family, except my father, have taken the side of my cousin to the point where half of them refuse to talk to me. It is to the point where my grandparents have taken in my cousin and are letting him stay at their house free of rent. Everything that has happened has left me speechless and not knowing what to do. I've been depressed, I'm not the happy girl I used to be. I tried counseling and medications, none of it seemed to work for me.

I kept searching, trying to find something that took the pain and reminders away. I used to always love to write and draw, I still do, but they don't have the same therapeutic effect as they used to have on me. But soon, I realized what I really wanted to do. I want to become a photographer. When I take pictures, I feel like I'm free of everything, I feel like I'm in a whole another world. It just helps me forget everything that has happened.

I hate to ask people for money, it's always been something that I didn't like to do. But, I want to try and help myself and I would greatly appreciate your help. I would like to buy a camera. The one I have been recommended is a Nikon D3300 which will cost around five hundred dollars with a bundle.

I am asking you to please help me get this camera and help me start my dream. Being behind the camera is my favorite place to be and the only place I'll ever want to be. It helps me forget, it helps put a smile on my face again.

I want to be a survivor who will show to their rapist that they didn't win. That I won because I made something of my life, I never quit trying, and they didn't keep me down because of what they did.

Thank you everyone.