Human trafficking, gangs, drugs—Holly Harris never expected these things to become a part of her life. But at just 19 years old, her choices led her to a prison sentence and to the realization that something had to change. Now she hopes her experiences can help others on a similar path. She has written about her journey in the book Relentless Survivor.
Harris grew up in a small town in Wisconsin with her mom and sister. At age 8, her mom married what Harris said was “the most amazing man.” He adopted the girls, and Harris was thrilled to have a father. But outside of her family she struggled to fit in.
“I never had a close group of friends or any sense of belonging no matter where I went,” Harris explained. “It did not take long for me to start acting out and breaking the rules.”
Her mother, Sally Harris, quickly grew worried as well as exasperated with her daughter’s behavior.
“Between skipping school, experimenting with alcohol and marijuana, and being promiscuous at a young age, my life was not looking promising,” Harris said.
Her parents sent her away to a boarding school but that only exacerbated her desire to rebel. When she returned home from the school, she moved out of her parents house and spent a lot of time partying with her new friends — a group that helped her feel like she “belonged.”
These relationships led to her becoming involved in crime and, ultimately, becoming a victim of human trafficking. On this week’s episode of Watching America, Harris shares about her journey and how she found her way out of this dangerous lifestyle.
You can find Holly Harris at her website, as well as on Facebook and Instagram .
Note: Last week, we heard from Harris’ mother, Sally, whose life was also thrown into turmoil when her daughter’s life spun out of control. You can catch up on that episode online.