In support of Women’s HerStory Month, a nationally recognized month highlighting empowering stories about women, Sacramento State showed a film on teenage prostitution Thursday, followed by a lecture by human trafficking survivor Chong Kim, whom the film was based on.

In her book, “Broken Silence: Surviving Human Trafficking & Child Exploitation”, Kim described her three-year captivity which included drug addiction and physical and sexual abuse before her heroic escape.

“When I heard who (Chong Kim) was, I researched her story and wondered why more wasn’t being done (to prevent this issue),” said freshman philosophy major Katrina Cainglet. “It’s crazy to see it happening here (in the U.S.).”

Every 40 seconds a child goes missing and approximately one out of eight are sold into human trafficking, according to amberalert.com.

Kim, a United States citizen who was born in South Korea, was kidnapped at 19 and sold into slavery by a man whom she had known as her boyfriend.

Her naivety from an abusive childhood caused her to trust him, which she said is a common problem amongst young adults.

“I had low self-esteem and was very vulnerable,” Kim said. “I believed him when he told me he loved me. He was so dreamy.”

Kim shared harrowing details of her years in captivity and talked about the warning signs and preventative methods. She brought attention to the fact that it can affect anyone.

“The message that Chong Kim has needs to be heard by more people and not just women,” said UNIQUE’S program advisor Ajamu Lamumba.

Junior mathematics major Melanee Tano said the event was eye-opening and nothing she could ever have imagined.

“Watching the movie was really intense and people should be more aware and more careful how they interact with people,” Tano said. “I will be more cautious.”

Prior to being kidnapped, Kim said she battled with low self-esteem and her vulnerability made for an easy target.

She felt as if the torture endured was punishment for something she did in her lifetime. Using humor to help heal, Kim found solace in educating young adults about trafficking in hopes to attack the root of the problem.

“Predators know exactly what to look for,” Kim said. “Social media has made it easier for them to watch you.”

Increasing awareness of human trafficking, Kim holds multiple workshops and advocates around the country for more universities to get involved.

She is part of various Facebook organizations and survivor groups. For Women’s HerStory month, UNIQUE has sponsored events that support the contributions that women have made to society highlighting challenges they are faced with on a daily basis.

They collaborate with other campus departments such as Women’s Resource Center, Pride Center and Associated Student’s Inc.

For the past 10 years, Kim said she has used her tragedy to educate young adults about safety measures in hopes that it will save lives.

She works alongside those who are striving to end slavery and injustice empowering victims and survivors alike.

“Don’t tell me that you are sorry,” Kim said. “Tell me that you are angry enough to do something.”