To the Editor:

As a semi-retired resident of Western North Carolina, I never expected to spend this stage of life focused on whether I can trust my decision makers to act in the best interests of our community, our region and our country. 

It usually doesn’t start with a report or a formal complaint — it starts with a conversation. A friend, a classmate or a roommate quietly says, “Can I tell you something?” and suddenly, you’re the person they trust with something heavy. 

For many college students who experience sexual assault or relationship violence, confiding in a peer feels safer than reaching out to an office or making an official report. That means students are often the first line of support in moments that matter most.

When this column is published, I’ll be emerging from five days in the wilderness of Southwest Virginia. A group from First United Methodist Church of Waynesville will be participating in the Wilderness Trail experience from June 21-26.

When I first arrived in Western North Carolina just after New Year’s Day, 2014, I wasn’t planning to stay.