'I believe you': At 'It's On Us' summit, Miss Keystone 2018 reflects on recovering after sexual abuse

Kayla Schneider’s story of sexual abuse started like many others.

At age 12, the southern Lancaster County native met her abuser: a decorated police officer, firefighter and venerable figure in the community.

He showered her with gifts, attended her orchestra concerts and softball games. As Schneider put it, “he was everywhere.”

But he was also controlling and manipulative — and, eventually, abusive sexually.

Schneider shared her story Friday at the It’s On Us Educational Summit: Navigating Your Role as an Educator in the Movement to End Sexual Violence at Millersville University. The daylong event featured breakout sessions and exhibits based on sexual violence prevention and awareness.

The event, organized by Millersville’s Center for Health Education and Promotion and YWCA Lancaster, brought together local schools, colleges, community organizations, the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 and Millersville students and administrators. It was made possible by a $30,000 It’s On Us state grant.

The It’s On Us PA campaign invites educators and community members to play a role in ending sexual assault.

Pennsylvania Education Secretary Pedro Rivera spoke in addition to Schneider. In her keynote speech, Schneider described how she went from an 11-year-old “ripped of my innocence” to a junior at Lock Haven University, a member of the state’s Children’s Justice Act Task Force and Miss Keystone 2018.

And it couldn’t have happened, Schneider said, without the support she received from her mother after she spoke out about her abuse for the first time.

“She said the most important and powerful words you can say to any sexual abuse survivor: ‘I believe you,’ ” Schneider said.

Xavier Garcia-Molina, a sexual assault counselor with YWCA Lancaster who attended the summit, said believing a victim of sexual abuse is critical. Too often, he said, people judge when they should simply help.

“Trauma looks totally different for everyone,” he said. “Once we start to believe that, we can empower.”

Rachael Bommelyn, a senior at Millersville, said Schneider’s story brought “humanity” into the conversation surrounding sexual assault and served as a reminder of how personal it can be.

“This is not the first time you hear a story like this,” Bommelyn said. “It happens way more than people would want to think.”

Rita Foster, a school counselor at Lancaster Country Day School said the summit reinforced today’s reality that educators aren’t just “teaching math and science anymore.”

“I want to make sure that our school is doing everything possible to keep kids safe,” Foster said. “I think it’s our job to help protect kids and keep them safe.”

Credit: ALEX GELI | Staff Writer