I feel compelled to talk about the scenarios I mentioned in today’s episode of @inkmaster. (Trigger warning, read on if you feel ready for it) —In the episode, for those who don’t know, I mention my apprenticeship and how I had gotten to a point where I was making a plan to take my own life. It’s very hard to reflect on this time now, it feels like it happened to a different person. I wanted to provide some clarity here— this did not happen to me because I struggle with depression. Those who know me can tell you that I am full of fire and life and love and though I have my struggles, depression is not one of them. I was moved to this conclusion because of the consistent, blatant, mistreatment and abuse I suffered as an apprentice. As much as I want to be a voice for mental health awareness, this is a very important moment to shed light on the truth of what happened to me. I started apprenticing when I was 20 years old. One of the sad truths of this industry is that people like my young self are so vulnerable to mistreatment, especially when they are ambitious and committed. Being publicly ridiculed, being sleep deprived, being disrespected, degraded and sexualized and physically mistreated became things that I not only had to accept, but was taught to be thankful for. I was told stories about apprentices running off, and the homies finding them and breaking their hands with a ball pin hammer. I spent a lot of time in dangerous situations I shouldn’t have been in. I could tell stories of what I endured for hours. Those of you who saw it, please leave a comment because I refuse to stand alone on this one. More than 6 years have gone by and I am still terrified to talk about this. But in those 6 years, I found my way out. I learned what I needed to learn to be great. I rose above and I faced my career with fearlessness, because nothing could ever compare to the hell I once endured. I made it out of that and I knew that I had to be something incredible, because the simple fact that I’m alive is a fucking miracle. Now my only goal is to share that miracle and share my light with as many of you as I can. Thank you all, for just simply being here to see it.