My Life, My Journey, My Healing
Hello, my name is Demetria President, CEO, and Founder of The Goode Fight.
There’s a reason behind The Goode Fight.
I’ve struggled with mental health issues, and I’m just beginning my journey toward healing. I may bounce around a bit, but I’ll try to keep this short and real.
I’m learning to live life as the little girl inside me—finally enjoying her, honoring her, and embracing the woman she has bloomed into.
Truth is, I didn’t like myself as a little girl.
I didn’t like myself as an adult either.
I didn’t love myself… because people made me feel unworthy.
I was a people pleaser.
I bought people’s attention and love when I didn’t have to.
But I did—because that was my way of coping. That was my trauma. That was my mental health battle.
Let me start here.
Almost 13 years ago, my ex-husband stabbed me six times with a steak knife. That incident left me with deep hatred—not just toward men, but toward myself. I was already weak, drained, and frustrated from being in that relationship. I had experienced emotional, financial, sexual, and verbal abuse. The physical abuse came at the end.
I went through almost every form of abuse imaginable in that relationship.
And when it was over, I realized something painful, just because you give your all to people doesn’t mean they’ll show up for you.
When I needed support the most, many of the people I had been there for were nowhere to be found.
That created emptiness. Loneliness. Emotional breakdown.
I was so broken… I attempted suicide.
Months after my attack, I was still recovering. I had 15 stitches in my chin and upper lip, three staples in my hand. Doctors tried to repair the tendons and nerves in my hand—but they couldn’t. I’ll always have permanent damage in my right hand.
But what saved my life was my toddler.
I had 30 Percocet in my hand, ready to take them, when she walked in the room kissed on the forehead and said “Mommy, I love you.” Then she ran out the room.
That kiss and her words made me drop the pills.
It took me back to my childhood.
From the ages of 12 to 16, I was in and out of the system from Juvenile detention and Multiple group homes.
I realized I had been attracting men like the ones I saw growing up.
As a child, I experienced emotional abuse. Verbal abuse. Physical abuse.
I was hurt. I was confused. I was broken.
My mom did the best she could.
My dad tried to be there, but I often pushed him away.
I was placed in his care when I was acting out, and I already had resentment toward him. I just didn’t understand it at the time. It wasn’t his fault.
I was sexually abused, bullied, and physically hurt by family members.
I was emotionally distraught.
Because I was bullied, I became a bully myself.
That’s why I’m a big advocate against bullying today.
When I moved, I was bullied again—but by then, I had learned how to defend myself. By age 12 or 13,
I knew how to fight back.
The Goode Fight came from that pain.
It came from the trauma.
It came from the broken places in my life.
We are here to help people—men, women, and youth—who are dealing with domestic violence, life traumas, mental health struggles, and more.
We help before the damage happens, and we help people navigate the pain when it already has.
We connect them with resources, with hope, and with healing.
I’m still going through my healing journey.
This is the first time I’ve ever truly loved myself.
The first time I’ve ever felt peace.
I used to say I had self-esteem—but I didn’t.
I was insecure. I was unhappy. I had issues I didn’t even know how to name.
But doing the legwork—the healing work—has changed me. It’s been powerful.
And I’m so thankful for this process.
I thank you all for listening.