PowerBack Student Spotlight-Julian Flores
By Laura Varelas Arroyo, PowerBack Manager
Since 2009, PowerBack, our teen dating abuse outreach program, has educated 23,000+ students about dating abuse and has certified 850 of them to be PTAs (PowerBack Teen Advocates) within their schools. We’ve listened to so many share their personal stories; witnessed their drive in learning how to play a role in ending dating abuse; and watched as they became shining examples of leadership on campus. One student who has stood out as a voice to speak out against abuse and to make a difference at his school is Julian Flores from Garfield High School.
Julian joined PowerBack in 2023 with a desire to educate his peers on the reality that young men can also be survivors of dating abuse. He courageously shared his experience of dating abuse with the other PTAs and is always empathetic to those that share their own stories. Julian was always the first to volunteer for any PowerBack event or project and was excited to participate in the PSA we produced for Teen Dating Abuse Awareness Month last year.
This past summer, he joined the APFC staff at our resource table for moviegoers at a screening of It Ends With Us, a film which portrays abuse in a couple’s relationship. We were so impressed with his ability to speak about this issue with such ease – with those that just wanted to discuss the topic as depicted in the film or those who disclosed that they too had experienced abuse in their own lives.
We asked Julian some questions about his experience with PowerBack and he shared the following:
My PowerBack experience was definitely very impactful, it helped me learn a lot about dating and the types of relationship abuse that I didn’t know about before. It helped me become a much better person for my life in the future and in my dating life specifically.
PowerBack helped me to overcome a lot, and it impacted my dating decisions by helping me realize certain things were not healthy in my past relationship.
My favorite part about the program has been how it brought me and my peers together. It helped me create lifelong friendships, and it also taught me how to have healthy friendships.
What I would say to someone in an abusive relationship is, stay strong and hold onto hope. Even when you feel there is no way out, as the saying goes, “there is always light at the end of the tunnel”.
We appreciate Julian’s ability to be so vulnerable about his own experience with dating abuse and are appreciative of his willingness to always step up when needed. He is passionate about helping others and embodies what it means to be a PowerBack Teen Advocate. We are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Julian.