Always Be Aware Of Your Surroundings For Your Safety

After the disappearances and deaths of Gabby Petito and Miya Marcano, my sense of safety has dwindled and my fear has grown. 

Petito was a 22-year-old woman who was reported missing in September and Marcano, a 19-year-old student at Valencia College, also went missing that month. 

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, thousands of people are reported missing every year. In 2020, more than 540,000 people were reported  missing, including more than 340,000 juveniles.

Being a girl in today’s society makes it hard to do basic things without feeling unsafe like walking alone at night to your car or even going past a group of men without getting cat-called and followed.  

If you feel uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to speak up and verbalize your discomfort. If you see another girl nearby who feels that way, approach her and take her away from whoever is making her feel uncomfortable.

We need to stick together.

Don’t be shy about asking someone to walk with you when you feel unsafe. You can also request a Miami Dade College public safety escort to your vehicle by calling your campus’ 24-hour dispatch center.

When going out, let someone know where you’re going. Pay attention to who is around you, remember their features and what they’re wearing. 

If possible, carry some form of protection with you, whether that is an emergency alert button or pepper spray.

Have your phone with you at all times in case you need to send your location to someone. Also set up emergency contacts on a health app. 

Lock your car’s doors as soon as you’re inside. Check to make sure there’s no one hiding behind, under or inside your car. Be alert in parking lots because many women are abducted there.

Just because a stranger may look innocent, doesn’t mean you should trust them. 

Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy lured many of his victims into his car by pretending to be injured and asking for help. So just keep walking rather than approaching a stranger who wants you to get closer to their car.

I know this can be especially hard when you don’t want to pre-judge people, however,  trust your instinct when things feel odd. You never know what  can happen.