From Trauma to Triumph: Overcoming the Past To Create Powerful Future Without Fear with Darlene Campagna

Darlene Campagna was a college student enjoying a night out on the town with friends when her group inadvertently ran into an angry crowd infuriated after being locked out of a concert. 

For 15 minutes that felt like forever, the crowd took its frustration out on Darlene and her friends, terrorizing them before they were able to escape.

It’s been decades, but Darlene still remembers how her life changed in an instant. Her story is about triumphing over trauma to tap inner strength, achieve life goals, and help other women to do the same.

Transcript

Jennifer Malcolm: 0:10

Calling all women who are curious and called Welcome to the next episode of the Jennasis Speaks podcast The you. So very happy to be here. Thank you, you're very welcome. continued healing. And when we know it's a little scary that we

Darlene Campagna: 1:19

I'm glad to be here. Thank you.

Jennifer Malcolm: 1:21

So bio prep for you because you are an

Darlene Campagna: 1:37

Excellent.

Jennifer Malcolm: 1:37

All right, so Darlene is an award winning National Association of Women's Business owners. So nabco area. Darlene is also president of the entrepreneurs professionally. So congratulations.

Darlene Campagna: 2:32

Thank you very much, a lot of hard work but all

Jennifer Malcolm: 2:36

And I remember one of the first times that I sponge, absorbing what the the instructor was sharing, and I

Darlene Campagna: 3:16

Yeah, I would agree. I you know, it's a business owners. You know, that's what really drives me. just, that's just amazing. It's what I want to do. And I'm glad

Jennifer Malcolm: 4:00

And we met EO, can you give the audience just a audience who might be curious?

Darlene Campagna: 4:25

Sure. I've actually been a part of EO, now really based with a foundation of sharing experiences, pushing helping others. I've never been a part of a more amazing group,

Jennifer Malcolm: 5:27

And I think that was a piece that was the and both are entirely welcome, and desired because we try to we have our personal life that we then take our hat off and do compartmentalize those two elements of our bodies and souls

Darlene Campagna: 6:25

Well, and I think the other thing I love so just like you. But the value really comes in being associated

Jennifer Malcolm: 6:57

And that's the heart of Jennasis Speaks as know, have this straight and narrow viewpoint on life. It is expanded my viewpoint than my own self centric manner. That's compassionate listener, and I want to be a friend. And that's

Darlene Campagna: 8:00

Yeah, I think one of the other things I love

Jennifer Malcolm: 8:13

Awesome. All right, so enough about eo cause different ways in the years to come. So why don't you start at

Darlene Campagna: 8:38

Okay, well, we'll start from the beginning. free person that I was with my friends, we were down in the downtown Cleveland. And it was like, Okay, let's go, let's jump with me. And I just was like, No, you know what, guys? We're probably the most intense I've ever experienced it, my stomach, two door car. So this is, you know, quite a number of years went through this light and we end up in a long a one way rap concert that was billed as an all day non stop, like. So guards. And the security folks that they did have, they Imagine a riot breaking up, right? So it's chaos kind of you know, that's that moment. We were surrounded, our car was a different time the cars were very different back then. We eventually broke both of the windows on the side doors. And constant bashing. First off, we were robbed so ripped off my all over my head. I had blast cuts in my mouth. So you know I seat. They smashed her window as well. You know at one point So us in a vehicle behind us got out, pulled them off of her so hundreds of people standing around watching and nobody the middle, she ended up cradling my head, in her arms you're trying to keep the car going, and protect yourself and

Jennifer Malcolm: 16:37

And I'm sorry. My heart is racing, as you're surroundings of Can I move? Can I get the car out of here, were on your own. It was the six of you and not much support

Darlene Campagna: 17:36

Yeah, that's a great question so. So little by seeing what was happening. I'm assuming he was getting the Go down the street to precinct whatever, to the police station. didn't know what else was going on how far within you know the police station there. I wish I could say that's kind of where help you. That's not our jurisdiction. And we're like,

Jennifer Malcolm: 19:29

Wow, you should get to the hospital and

Darlene Campagna: 19:39

They would not help us. Eventually that led to street. And in fact, her she was in the car with us. The mom came to break this to you. But I need to let you know, the hospital is had to come in the middle of the night. You know, even that was of us after including, like, I think my own family and friends, shouldn't have been there What? You know that, that that alone, help you don't want to see your kids go through that pain and

Jennifer Malcolm: 22:08

Well and I think that piece do is you're you should have coulda woulda, I try not to put that on my kids. undermine, but all it's doing to you is bringing more trauma, or guilt on you for whatever, whatever you their their that on us as well.

Darlene Campagna: 23:29

Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, I have done this if I was there. If I was there, I would have You know, we're trying to I mean, we're trying to keep the

Jennifer Malcolm: 24:12

They're just pulling that up and try to pull

Darlene Campagna: 24:15

So you're trying to I'm trying to you know, it's just, you know, to just, again, try to keep and you have no idea.

Jennifer Malcolm: 24:52

I did a therapy session regarding my at the table, we go to a networking event, we go to a like, You did nothing wrong. Because you did something 99.9% But it still can spring up is that? You know you did repercussions. And so you're just surviving and protecting

Darlene Campagna: 26:27

No and you know, it's funny, you said that. finger. It was a ring that my aunt gave me. And they were ring. And you know, I still have it. But you're right. I mean,

Jennifer Malcolm: 27:20

One part of our site, tenacity, overcoming, term mental or other physicality. And as tough as the that developed through that experience is to be to be proud talked about some PTSD, that also resulted. So let's, let's

Darlene Campagna: 28:33

Yeah, you know, and it's, it's to happen? peep I think people go around, okay, nothing's ever minute or so we would have seen what was going on and we could times or when I went out. I'd see groups of young men and I attacks. It definitely triggered I think things inside have me little by little, you know, working to try to rebuild some again, I think is really, really important. I got introduced a do this. And I actually kind of fell in love with it. And we being able to shoot through cars, from cars on the ground,

Jennifer Malcolm: 31:43

Awesome.

Darlene Campagna: 31:44

You know, he gave me the confidence to know guns, we have several in our house. So I've got hunters and sponsored several of his courses for our eo ladies, for this Just really gave me my confidence. And again, you know, There's no way in that situation that I think that would have critical to safety and protection.

Jennifer Malcolm: 33:43

It sounds like you this was such a gift. A you being able a to reframe that in your heart, but then the gift through this gun program. But now you're also gifting those

Darlene Campagna: 34:40

You know, it's interesting, because when all of within the, you know, the friendships and the families. situation, determine my life and my path and control me. I was

Jennifer Malcolm: 35:43

And do you think that that translates even would have traumatized them for life? And that's saying that you strength and resilience to you as a business owner?

Darlene Campagna: 36:25

Yeah, you know, it's a great question. I know, for years and years, quite frankly, I've been working to the way that I wanted to, I wasn't delivering the services want, and started to literally divest myself of pieces, parts, difference. And I'm doing that. controlling my business, I have

Jennifer Malcolm: 38:19

And I want to make sure that for the audience right. And it's our narrative. And it's our, it's our and be proud that you have cultivated a business that make sure for the audience that we're not saying that we're the right framework for what we're describing here with

Darlene Campagna: 39:24

Yeah, that's a great point. Great point.

Jennifer Malcolm: 39:26

So as we wrap up, there's going to be many of post 2020 with with COVID and a lot of loss of relationships and what's some advice that you would give to someone that is

Darlene Campagna: 40:19

You know, I think the the first thing I do so many times I've talked to people who have had situations You know, and, and I can't probably say that enough. It's know, what, if something doesn't happen, then you may just have

Jennifer Malcolm: 41:35

So good. And that's the piece I was gonna hit say, you're just being oversensitive, because you don't happened. Yeah, knows what what would have could have happened.

Darlene Campagna: 42:15

Yeah. And yeah, keep yourself safe,

Jennifer Malcolm: 42:19

Good. Yeah. Thank you so much, my friend is see the tears as you shared their story today. And the

Darlene Campagna: 42:53

Well, thank you so much. You know, I love

Jennifer Malcolm: 42:58

Thank you.

Darlene Campagna: 42:58

It takes courage as well. And Amazing,

Jennifer Malcolm: 43:10

I appreciate I appreciate Well, thanks, ladies interested in learning more about the SEAL training and the love the show, one of the best things you can do is to share it