For the expectant mother, nine months is the time given to prepare for a new baby; for the student, it’s the term of one grade level. For Elizabeth Smart, nine months was the agonizing period spent captive by her abductor and his wife. 

I went with my daughters, Elise and Victoria, to Nicholls State to hear Smart speak at the commencement of the Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy.

As I entered the ballroom, on the right I noticed a book table and the long line of people waiting for her to sign books. On the left were several tables of refreshments. I veered left.

Once the line went down, I bought a book, which Elise and I waited to have signed. We chatted briefly with Smart, who was poised, sweet, quiet, then she signed our copy of her book, My Story.

Once given the microphone, Smart was the polished speaker, beautiful and eloquent, who began, “In all of my travels, I’ve met many people, and found there’s one thing we all have in common, we all have problems. Those who stand out and have made the biggest difference are those who choose to move forward and not let problems stop them.

“I’m more than the girl who was kidnapped. I have started a foundation, have a husband and two dogs and I like to shop.”

Smart took the audience back to night of June 5, 2002, when she was a shy 14-year-old who was awoken by a man’s voice she thought was part of a dream.

“Don’t make a sound. Come with me or I will kill you and your family,” he said.

The cold, sharp knife held against her throat was proof of the man’s intent.

Smart said that we teach kids what to do in other circumstances. If she was on fire, she knew to stop, drop and roll. Look both ways before crossing the street. Never talk to stranger or help them look for a puppy. But at the time, she did not know that 80 percent of children who fight back, get away.

She led us through her hours-long forced hike in the woods behind her house, which gradually took her farther away from her home.

She asked her captor, “If you’re going to rape and murder me, do it now.” She wanted her body easily found so her family wouldn’t have to wonder what happened to her. He replied, “I’m not going to do that. Yet.” 

Once they reached the campsite, she was taken into a tent by another woman, forced to change into a crude robe, heard her captor recite a marriage ceremony, then raped.

Afterward she was chained and began to think, what if I’m gone so long I forget who I am? She started to engrave every detail of her family members on her mind.

“They could not take my family from me. I decided to survive,” she said.

For nine torturous months, she suffered the atrocities and indignities heaped upon her by couple who held her prisoner.

Finally, on March 12, 2003, three people, within five minutes of each other, phoned the police to report their sighting of Elizabeth Smart.

After the kidnapping, her mother urged her to punish her captors by moving on.

“What he’s done to you is terrible. If you want to punish him, be happy, move forward; don’t let him steal one more minute of your life,” she said. 

She concluded her speech by saying we can always find something to be grateful for, turn around for good, reach out, never give up. Overcoming extreme adversity if possible if you don’t allow your past to dictate your life’s future.

Two evil people chose to kidnap, imprison and rape a 14-year-old.

Elizabeth Smart chose to survive and move on to begin and preside over the “Elizabeth Smart Foundation,” and promoted safety legislation to help prevent abductions.

What a story!

 

Ronny may be reached at

rmichel@rtconline.com.