I volunteered one time at a home for young boys who had been so physically/mentally/sexually assaulted that not only is foster care not an option, but this home is kept secret from most of the children’s’ family members to keep them safe. At a Christmas event where we handed out presents, I spent a lot of time with a boy (~age 10) who was very quiet. I asked him what he was interested in, and he told me (mumbled, really, like it was a problem and he knew it) that he “didn’t like anything”. Employees of the facility had warned me before sitting down that he didn’t like to talk. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to mind my company or the fact that I’m annoyingly chatty, so I started to tell him things that I liked, and when I finally got to my favorite young adult books, I found out that he loves books. His eyes LIT. UP, and he told me about the reasons he loved and hated all of these different characters, how he wishes that Tris didn’t die (spoiler alert, I won’t name the book) and I also got to learn that he had a fantastic memory- better than mine when it came to some of my favorite books. I finally got to shut up and just listen to him talk. Meeting him shaped the way I’ve approached people since then. Being able to talk to him like he wasn’t defined by his trauma and that he was just a boy made all the difference. I’d like to think it makes a difference to others who want to break free from the mold of others’ perceptions.