Very passionate share!
Sober 12 years since 8/23/2004, this is Juli's second talk at a major roundup. She spent much of her life as a victim.
Born in Anderson, IN to parents who were teetotalers, active church members and her father still takes the ministry into prison, Julie could use her mug shot to describe 'what it was like'.
"I was born a nasty two year old and remained that way until well into my thirties."
They moved around alot. The last move was from New Jersey to Paulding county Georgia. She was mean and angry ...
"... because if I could push you away from me soon enough then you wouldn't have the opportunity to hurt me. And that's what I was afraid of."
Her first drink was at age 13 at 6:00 am in the morning at the bus stop. She was busted in a big way, the police were called and she was OK with it because for just a little while alcohol filled that hole.
She was willing to use anything to change the way she felt. She got married at 14 and gave birth at age 15. Her doctor told her she would never have children again and she thought that was great - no more consequences for bad behavior with boys. She took another hostage at 18 that did not last.
She went on a vicious downward spiral on other substances. Her mother took her son to raise. She found an older man with a job and a car and surprisingly they got pregnant and gave birth to a son. But that was not enough and 30 days after leaving one she married another.
She lived on the streets of Atlanta for three years doing whatever it took and then was sent to prison for the first time.
The journey from there to here is inspirational.