I work at a fast food restaurant in Preston county. The store is generally open til 10 pm, meaning that by the time closing comes around, it's already dark, and a busted street lamp provides little relief from the lack of visibility. The majority of the people I work with are young women who have lived in the region their whole lives, and although they all have different personalities and experiences, they all share a common fear: Sex trafficking. This kind of fear is not new to women, it's a conversation all mothers have with their daughters, and is a common thread in the horror stories we tell each other. However, something occurred to me one night while I was working. Of the women I work with, all of them have someone looking out for them, family and friends they speak to often and who care for them, people who would miss them if they disappeared. While their fear of sexual assault is rational, they are not the main target of predators. Those who are most likely to become victims are the women who have no one. Addicts and homeless women who are not protected by family or friends, those that society looks down on. Addiction is an issue that has plagued Appalachia for close to 40 years and is a problem that almost every citizen has a connection to, whether they have a relative, friend, coworker, or acquaintance that was/is an addict or who overdosed. When you drive down the street and see women barely able to walk, or dressed in dirty unkempt clothes asking for money, your first reaction is disgust or apathy. We believe that they did this to themselves, that any money you spare them will go towards their addiction, and maybe that's true, but the problem lies with this biased view impacting our view of them as humans. Even more concerning, is the idea that those in government or law enforcement do not see missing women as important due to these prejudices, and will be less likely to pursue investigations into reports of missing people due to their history as addicts or homeless. I want to pursue a degree in political science and history with the goal of a career in the FBI or local law enforcement, so that I may be someone who not only looks out for women living on the outskirts of society, but also creates systemic change. I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, whether they are an addict, criminal, or simply in a bad place, and that it is the duty of people in my generation to create change in places where it is needed.