Katelyn Pendleton isn’t sure exactly where her future is going to take her. She says she wants to be a children’s advocate, a cardiologist or maybe an author.
But even with an uncertain path ahead, the 16-year-old girl who survived horrific abuse is making a name for herself and challenging others to stand up and fight child abuse.
“I’m just telling my story,” the soon-to-be Choctawhatchee High School sophomore said of being the keynote speaker at this year’s Krimes Against Kids Conference held recently in Orlando.
Katelyn said just a day before she was scheduled to speak to more than 200 children’s advocacy officials she had a little help on her presentation from actor Gilles Marini, who has appeared in “Brothers and Sisters,” the 2008 “Sex and the City” movie and ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth.”
The actor stayed on the same hotel floor as Katelyn for the conference. During breakfast one morning they crossed paths and Marini who offered a few public speaking tips.
“He told me everyone gets nervous, even he does,” Katelyn said. “He told me just to take a few deep breaths and not to be nervous. It made me less nervous.
“During my speech I thought about him and what he said and told myself, ‘Just think like Gilles’,” she said, laughing.
Julie Hurst, CEO of the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, said Katelyn’s 20-minute speech was a success. Audience members were in tears at the story of the little girl who had been burned, starved and beaten by her guardian and caregiver for several months in late 2007 and early 2008.
“Katelyn was really the star that day,” Hurst said. “For her to get up the nerve to speak in front of all those people and share what she’s been through, that’s a lot.”
Katelyn said Marini stopped by the conference the following day to lend his support and attend an ice cream social. She plans to participate in more speaking engagements and says she’ll always think of the tall, dark and handsome actor and the tips he gave her.
For now, though, the high school girl is busy with volleyball, prepping for school and considering writing a book on her experiences.
“It helps me and I think it will help other children in my position when I share what happened to me,” Katelyn said.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.
