Throughout the month of October, I’ve been interviewing women that have survived Breast Cancer or Domestic Violence. Our next featured SURVIVOR is Janie-Aadyah Harris. Here is her story:
IHTG: What is your job title/business?
Janie-Aadyah: I am the founder of ONFIYA, Inc., a mentoring program for youth and young adults that helps them become self sufficient.
IHTG: How old were you when the violence began?
Janie-Aadyah: I was 15.
IHTG: Take us back to that day, how did it begin?
Janie-Aadyah: In 2012, I took my oldest daughter to go and stay with her dad for a couple of days. Something told me to call her and check on her. I called her and she stated to that she had not seen her dad since earlier that day and she was in the grocery store with his baby mama. I got off the phone with her and called her dad to tell him to take her to my father’s house. He said, “…give him a hour.” An hour passed by and he called me back saying meet him at his grandparents’ house because he was not going to drop her off at my dad’s. I told him that was fine that I would come and pick her up. When I pulled up to the home. He approached my vehicle questioning me. He then told me that my daughter was not leaving his house and there was nothing I could do about it. I asked his grandparents if they could send my daughter outside, instead the grandma came walking out. Once she came out, she and I began to talk. He ran up on me and punched me in my mouth. I fell to the ground with blood coming from my mouth. He then proceeded to pull my hair, kick me all over, knee me, and punch me repeatedly. I’m not sure what made him stop…
IHTG: When did you decide to fight and not succumb to the abuse?
Janie-Aadyah: When I was 3 months pregnant he punched me in my stomach and I also miscarried. Then my daughter was born and at 2 weeks old he tried to hit me again, but I defended myself and broke up with him and never went back.
IHTG: What were some of the things you did to keep you motivated throughout the process?
Janie-Aadyah: I just really avoided him. I stayed away from him and I turned my life completely around after that situation. God is what kept me motivated.
IHTG: Tell us about the emotions you faced during your battle.
Janie-Aadyah: I felt guilty about what happened. I felt like maybe I deserved for him to have tried to kill me. I felt afraid for my life. Just not knowing what he would try to do, knowing he didn’t kill me… it made me numb and very emotionless.
IHTG: How has your outlook on life changed?
Janie-Aadyah: My outlook on life changed tremendously. I actually changed my whole life around and it made me build a real relationship with GOD. That incident is what inspired me to incorporate my mentoring program. I now see my life as an inspiration and a testimony for other women.
IHTG: What brings you joy?
Janie-Aadyah: Encouraging and inspiring others and seeing them smile and succeed. That really brings me joy.
IHTG: What would you like people to know about Domestic Violence?
Janie-Aadyah: You don’t have to do anything to trigger a person for you to become a victim of domestic violence. You have a choice to stay and ignore the signs or walk away and save your life. Don’t think that you can change a person who is suffering from mental or emotional abuse.
IHTG: What would you like your legacy to be?
Janie-Aadyah: I want my legacy to let all young men and women know that just because they were brought up in a dysfunctional home where they may have seen abuse, were neglected, or maybe even abandoned; they can still live their lives to their greatest potential because they all have something inside of them the world needs to see or hear!
*You can find out more about Janie-Aadyah and OnFiya Mentoring by visiting them online: www.onfiyamentoring.com.*
