We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Harris a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you ever had an amazing boss? What did you learn from them? Maybe you can share a story that illustrates the kind of boss they were or maybe you can share your thoughts on what you think made them an awesome person to work for?

The best Boss I had was a boss I met when I ended a three-year career at the hospital. I was there three years and life had other plans for me at the time that I was not expecting. I made the decision to leave my comfort zone for something else. Life had taken me to some dark places and when she took the chance and hired me, I could feel the color slowly start coming back into my days. Her name was Victoria Gonzalez Svoboda a manager at the airport here in my state. She looked into my eyes. Even with me standing 5 feet 11 inches tall she could see the pain of that little girl inside of me that was afraid and scared. She was persistent on asking me what was wrong with me. I didn’t want to tell her because I was too afraid of things that transpired before. I mean How do you look at a manager and say listen I am a fine when I come here but when I leave here, I am going home to a spouse that really doesn’t care and I am still trying to get away from people that were trafficking me.
I kept my head down and worked because someway somehow, I thought that If I did my work, smiled and be the best employee I could that she wouldn’t see the fear and pain I was holding onto. I was wrong she saw it and acted on it. That still small voice would not leave her alone. So, she kept asking me. At that time to make things better I needed to work so I told her that if I told her not only would she leave me, but she would also fire me, and I couldn’t have that. It was her telling me that before she would ever think to fire me that she would try to help me that made me comfortable enough to talk to her. It was also her sitting me down and telling me that she wouldn’t leave me alone until I talked to her. I begin to sit in her office and bare my soul. The journey that she took was one like no other. I know that I have people by my side that I am grateful for on my journey. But she went through everything with me.
When an Assault happened (the last assault) she was right there with me. In that ever so loving but firm voice telling me to go to the hospital. Then to the police station with me to file a report. The days following, I feared everything but having her by my side made me realize that I could be strong.
I don’t know if she was fearless or not but even if she was afraid, she hid it well. She held me when I fell to pieces. She didn’t judge my journey, no matter how ugly it had become. There were days when I came in angry at the world and she didn’t judge. Days when I felt like ending my own pain that she stood firm and protected me from myself with her words. Eventually self-injury slowly surfaced, she kept things to help me cope. Every meeting I had with detectives I had her support. I could not ask for all that she did.
When I left to follow a dream of mine, she was the one to encourage me to go. To soar and to not look back. She will be forever in my heart and forever my mentor. All because she saved my life and nurtured the little girl in me. Now it’s the MAMA I am so proud of you that keeps me going. Even though I am still in my healing process. She is still with me to fight for me and with me. Its because of her that telling my story is possible. When I boldly told it in the Book that I wrote and dedicated to her. Titled In His Eyes: Finding My Way Back to God. It is because of Vicki that I can look in the mirror and tell the woman that I am today that I love you, and that I can whisper to the little girl in me that we are safe. All because someone was brave enough to care and fight for us. I now see that I am not only a survivor but a thriver. And that I have a purpose in a world that I thought had forgotten about me.
I am now the author of three books detailing my story with a fourth on the way. Titles Back from Bondage: How I Broke Free. In His Eyes: Finding My Way Back to God. And Through the Cracks, my fourth will be released in 2025 titled Explicit My Trafficking Story. I am now the Creator and Founder of Open Letters to a Survivor Podcast. Where we bring mental health to the forefront and give our viewers a safe place to heal. And my new business Purposed Gifts LLC. Helping Authors self-publish their books to bring their stories to life. If they dream it, we can create it. By the way I live life now self-injury free and finding the voice I thought I lost so long ago.
All of this because she listened to that still small voice inside of her. All because she persisted on in asking me even when I resisted telling her. All because she was not just a boss but a leader who hold so much compassion inside of her. All because yes, she was busy with work bat at a crowed airport didn’t just see numbers but saw people. The Job made her my boss but her saving my life made her my mentor forever.
Vicki because of you I reflect on Isaiah 30 20 and 21 NIV: 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” I hear not only the voice of God but you also rooting for me. Thank you for all that you have become in my life and most importantly saving the broken little girl inside of me.

Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My Name is Amanda “Lady Poet Speaks” Harris. I am an author and a Podcast creator of Open Letters to a Survivor. Bringing mental health to the forefront. Providing support. Our Motto is Let’s heal together. I am also the founder of Finding my Throne Ministries which is a mentor Program for girls in the Cleveland area. Lastly Purposed Gifts LLC. Where I help upcoming Authors, Self-Publish their books.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

There are times in my life I had to Pivot. And the greatest of all was when I left a marriage that was not serving the purpose that it was supposed to. I was in a marriage with a man that was 20 years older than me. He was abusive in every way that you can think of. I thought because of my past that it was all my fault. But Pivoting into the new Chapter of my life was needed to live my dreams. I Have been divorced for now 4 years and I have been finding my purpose and living my dreams ever since. I had to just be brave enough to stand up for myself. Most importantly to value myself and See the Survivor and the thriver inside of me. It was time to take my life back and become the person that I wanted to me. If no one else tells me, I see and know now that I am worth it.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Something that I had to unlearn is that I was not my anxiety or my depression. I was labeled as crazy or that there were a lot of things wrong with me because I struggled with anxiety. And that anxiety spoke through a lot of ways. Also, I had PTSD and sometimes symptoms would manifest in anger. And that anger would cause me to lash out in ways that were not me. But the anger spoke for me. Through the abuse I endured at the hands of people that were supposed to love me. I couldn’t take men in authority over me. Especially those that were aggressive with rules and direction. I spent a lot of time learning first that I that I was worthy and that I did not need to let the pain speak for me any longer. I had to unlearn that I was a problem. And that I was nothing. I had to unlearn what I thought for so long that I was which was nothing. When I unlearned these things that led me to becoming who I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Openletterstoasurvivor.online
• Instagram: Lady_Poet_Speaks_01
• Facebook: Lady Poet Speaks
• Youtube: Open letters to a Survivor Podcast

Image Credits

Drico Lamar and Victoria Gonzalez Svoboda