Yeardley Love was a senior lacrosse player at the University of Virginia, just weeks shy of her graduation, when she was tragically beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend. This type of accident may seem unordinary, but most people do not realize that one in three women, and one in four men will be affected by relationship abuse in their lifetime. This is a scary statistic because that may mean you or someone you know will experience relationship violence.

The One Love foundation was created in 2010 to honor the memory of Yeardley Love. This foundation works mainly with college students to raise awareness about relationship violence. A great way this foundation spreads awareness is through an escalation workshop. This workshop consists of a forty-minute powerful video and a compelling and emotional discussion after to learn the warning signs of relationship violence and how engage in a change.

Because Yeardley was a lacrosse player, many lacrosse teams around the nation join together in this movement. The Lebanon Valley College women’s lacrosse team was fortunate enough to hold an escalation workshop and lacrosse game in honor and memory of Yeardley Love.

Before the workshop, three of my teammates and I were trained by a representative from the One Love foundation to learn how to be facilitators and lead a discussion after the video. We welcomed the entire school and were pleased that many came to attend.

After the group watched the film, I had the amazing opportunity to discuss with my fellow teammates and classmates how to prevent and end relationship violence. A few days after the workshop, my team played a lacrosse game in honor of Yeardley and the One Love foundation. We played a tough game and won in overtime; all while remembering we were playing for something more than just ourselves.

Our generation tends to think we’re invincible and until something tragically happens to us or someone we know, we tend to overlook things like relationship violence. Yeardley Love was a college-athlete just like many of us. Her life was taken to soon because of something we tend to overlook or push to the side.

Relationship violence is more than just physical abuse; it includes emotional abuse in ways of controlling, criticism, and other forms. Our generation, in particular, needs to learn about the warning signs of relationship violence so we can be empowered to step up and prevent this behavior.

Relationship abuse is not uncommon and I have seen it in my own life. It is scary but no one will change unless they want to and self-wellbeing is the most important thing. Connecting with your support system and to remembering that you deserve to feel respected and safe in your relationship can go a long way.

The more awareness that comes about this topic, and the more we learn about ways to stop this behavior, the less this behavior will be tolerated and the more lives that can be potentially saved.

If you are interested in learning more about the One Love foundation, please visit their website at: http://www.joinonelove.org

If you are would like more information on aspects of relationship violence or need immediate support, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-7233

To learn about breaking up, safety planning, helpful advice, or to take a healthy relationship quiz, pleases visit: http://www.loveisrespect.org/