MIDLAND, Texas — Strolling through Midland College's campus is something Marcie Salgado finds herself doing daily as an employee in the Cosmetology Department, but years ago, she was back on this campus as a student.
"I was coming to school here and I always felt welcomed it was a positive great fun place where people help you," Salgado said. "Back then I was very young naïve. I had been a model, ballerina, I danced and did all these different things in college, loved life in general and I felt Ike it was kind of taken away from me for that time that that happened.
In her early 20s, Marcie's life was put on halt when she married her then boyfriend.
"The guy was someone that I knew you for so many years but you know people and you think that you really know them well but once you get married and start a life, you start to see different things," Salgado said. "Then I felt like 'oh what did I do' but then I didn’t know what to do, and then came the abuse."
The mom of one at the time began being physically and verbally abused saying she felt like she was in a prison.
"I recognized by some of the things by how he would get angry so easily how he changed the way he talked to me when we were alone how in front of people everything was different," Salgado said. "He had put boards on the doors front and back, hid my keys, there were rails on the windows."
After an entire year of abuse, Marcie was able to confide in a church member, family members and local organizations so her and her son could escape her ex-husband.
"Finally got the courage to let the police know on one incident and that’s where it can all start," Salgado said. "One person that knows can spread the word and get a team of people to come help you. But I feel like once I was able to leave and stood up for myself that was just the beginning and building my confidence to have a wonderful life."
Thirty years have now passed since Salgado left her domestic violence situation. Presently, the mom of three is back working at a place she loves.
"I been happy working there it’s been a great job," Salgado said.
She's still receiving treatment for the injuries she sustained while in the relationship.
"I have two wonderful therapists, a great doctor, people that treat me and pray with me and help me with the effects of the different injuries I received back then," Salgado said.
She's also found joy again in the things she used to love.
"You can’t stay stuck and you can’t stay on that level [that] used to be [on]," Salgado said. "The things that helped me [were] art, music, dance [and] writing.
Now she's hoping to help the next person by sharing her story.
"I think I’m still on that journey although it’s been 30 years ago that that happened and I have a forgiven him and let go. This right here is my chance to help others and that’s on my journey of healing," Salgado said. "Where years ago when it was happening I thought I was stuck and couldn’t get out and that if I told anybody it was just so embarrassing. [So] reach out for sure, get resources [and] take pictures of your injuries, if it’s happening to you let people know."
Salgado wants domestic violence survivors to not get stuck in the negative.
"We don’t have to live in a bad place we can overcome anything if you think positively," Salgado said. "Let your mind just meditate and relax and feel that yes you can do so much and so it’s in how we think it’s very important and it can keep us from being caged I know you can fly and you can be successful."