Survivors vs. Victims

A unique opportunity the January Series provides its listeners with is an introduction to speakers with experiences that starkly contrast the events in the life of the average audience member. One such speaker, Theary Seng, spoke about the devastating loss of her family and the millions of other Cambodians during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Her tragic past and her courageous spirit, although aspects of human experience that are largely unfamiliar to me, challenged my existing preconceptions and inspired me in my own personal growth.

The woman that delivered the January Series lecture on January 7th appeared to be beautiful, intelligent, and happy, not at all what one might expect of a genocide survivor. Her charisma, charm, and abounding joy surprised me, and for a moment, I disbelieved that this woman was, in fact, Theary Seng. However, Theary Seng was the woman that stood before us during the January Series lecture, and my initial preconceptions of what a “survivor” should look like were immediately shattered. Perhaps living in a privileged society and experiencing little to no tragedy in my personal life led me to conclude, erroneously, that survivors were always “victims”. The main distinction between these two terms, I believe, is that a victim may still be unable to relinquish their own vulnerability, whereas a survivor emerges from a trial embracing their own fortitude. According to these definitions, Theary Seng is undoubtedly a survivor. Her personal fortitude led me once again to a false conclusion, however, when I assumed that she must have always possessed the strength that was so powerfully evident during her lecture. When asked by an audience member if she had ever experienced the effects of Post-Traumatic Stess Disorder (PTSD), Ms. Seng clarified this misconception of mine by responding emphatically, “Yes! Of course!” She went on to describe her struggles with depression and an eating disorder throughout her adolescent years that she attributed to her PTSD.

I was incredibly inspired by Theary Seng’s journey. Her struggles at a young age led her through a period where she may very well have been described as a “victim,” but over time and through her relationship with Christ she evolved into the courageous woman I observed last Friday. Having personally suffered through a short period of depression and binge eating disorder, I was encouraged that Ms. Seng, who experienced infinitely greater trials than me, overcame these issues to emerge as a force for good in the world. As a Christian, a woman, and an idealist, I was both awed and motivated by Theary Seng’s story.