The Harm Explainer: How to Describe What Your School Did to You

This episode breaks down one of the most important — and most misunderstood — parts of the Borrower Defense process: harm. Borrowers often ask, “How do I explain my harm?” or “What counts as harm?” or “Do I even have harm?” The Harm Explainer tool answers those questions in simple, trauma‑aware language that helps you connect what your school did to the legal definition of harm. We walk through how the Harm Explainer works, why borrowers struggle to describe their harm even when they lived it, and how predatory schools create confusion, shame, and self‑blame that make this step feel impossible. You’ll learn how to identify the cause‑and‑effect patterns in your story, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to write harm statements that are clear, honest, and grounded in your lived experience.