“I never got justice, so I was highly affected by what happened to me,” Khadijah said.

In the years following the assaults, Khadijah worked to overcome many issues she faced, including anxiety and depression and an eating disorder. Part of her recovery process included getting active and staying healthy. It was a good fit for Khadijah because she participated in sports at a young age, including dance and running track.

“Running is fun, good for your body, helps release stress and makes you feel good,” Khadijah said.

When Khadijah is not hopping on the treadmill at the gym, she enjoys writing poetry, dancing, singing, and working on her autobiography. Healing from a sexual assault looks different for everyone, but she encourages other survivors to find things they like to do to relieve stress and keep working toward healing.

“Keep fighting and never give up,” Khadijah said.

Join supporters and survivors like Khadijah at the Lace Up for RAINN 5K on May 21st, either virtually or in-person in Washington, DC. Learn more and sign up to participate. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, it’s not your fault. You are not alone. Help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE and online.rainn.org, y en español: rainn.org/es.