Sarah Kopp

Very shy.

I felt like sometimes growing up that I almost had to step up a fair bit into situations because mom just was really, I guess, too shy to stand up for herself and things like that.

Yeah, definitely lacking self-esteem.

She had very, very small friend network.

I'm, you know, looking back at my childhood, I can't really remember mom ever having a social life or really having friends.

Like she had a couple of work colleagues that...

I guess, you know, she would have spoken to, but certainly never was going out really or hanging out with people.

It really was just such an insular environment with mum and I. Yeah, that definitely made her vulnerable because I think too, you know, we came from a family where you put a lot of trust in people, especially when they're in positions like being a teacher or, you know, those occupations that generally are

So you sort of don't question the intentions of someone that is in a position like being a teacher when they're, I guess, helping you and, you know, appearing like they care and they want the best for you.

Yeah, I think the big thing for me was...

it was really that emotional connection that I got with him that I, I latched onto.

Cause as I said, my mom is, is sort of, she struggles, I think, to emotionally connect.

And I did feel a little bit of divide in that way with my mom.

Like she was at everything, so supportive and things like that, but just not the type of person you can probably talk to about, you know, really big problems and things like that.

And yeah,

He really showed an interest and wanted to talk to me about my life and how I felt about things.

And, you know, when you're a teenager and you're already, it's such a vulnerable age, trying to work out where you fit in and everything.

And you want to be heard for who you are.

And I just sucked that up.

It was... Yeah.