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Today we had the privilege of sharing Demi’s message with over 350 students in grades ninth through twelfth. We sincerely thank the Purchase Line Administration and Faculty for this opportunity. I believe that had my daughter Demi and I been educated on how to recognize the early warning signs of teen dating violence ~ She would be alive today! Teen Dating Violence is more common than many people would like to admit. It is estimated that 40% of teenage girls ages 14 to 17 say they know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend, and about one in three high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship. That is a lot of teens having a problem that the adults around them are not recognizing. While dating is a normal part of the growing-up experience, many teens are unable to understand what constitutes a healthy vs. unhealthy relationship. We are hopeful that Demi’s message will help shed a light on the critical distinction between the two.