Alumni brings Purple Thread to RHS

This past month, I attended an event where I watched a young woman named Danielle DeZao give a presentation about her organization – the purplethread*. She spoke about her experience as a dating violence survivor that led her to establish her organization that raises awareness for domestic violence. As a freshman at Quinnipiac University, I am exposed to more people and places than I was in Ramsey and I am able to see the importance of recognizing the signs of an unhealthy relationship and noticing when a situation just doesn’t seem right. Her presentation was eye-opening, and I wanted others to hear what she had to say.

I reached out to Dr. Thumm and Mr. Esdale about having Danielle potentially present to students at Ramsey High School because I feel that it is so important to be aware of warning signs of dating violence and always be careful in any environment. You never know what someone has been through and you never realize that these things can also happen to you and the people you would least expect. If I had seen Danielle and her fiancé on a regular day, I would assume that she has the perfect life. Not the life where a man had once abused her physically and emotionally. Her presentation has opened up my eyes to the reality of domestic violence and unhealthy relationships and inspired me to spread the message to others. I am so glad that Ramsey High School will be having Danielle give this presentation that I saw at Quinnipiac to all students as they prepare to transition into college and the workplace.

By Caylie Landau, Class of 2018

*Ms. DeZao will be presenting to RHS Juniors and Seniors on March 22nd.