When I was 8 my parents became JW'S and strongly encouraged me to be baptized at 14, which I did. There was no way I knew what I was doing and it something I wish never happened. When I was 17 I wrote a letter disassociating myself and had my dad tell me "you are dead to us now, you know that don't you?" That was 17 years ago and I have found a life outside the org. It has not been an easy one but I have grown so much from every experience. An overdose which I was very lucky to survive, marriage, divorce, and one child have all made me who I am today. And I am very happy to be here.