Heywire winner Bridgette from Belyuen, NT, shares her story
Listen to an audio recording of this story here.
I lost my dad at when I was thirteen. I felt scared.
I felt like nobody was there for me. I felt there was no longer anyone to keep me on the right track, like he did.
So I started doing bad things.
I started smoking and doing drugs.
I stopped going to school.
But when I was fourteen, I did work experience and things changed.
My work experience was at a health clinic called, Headspace.
I met a lot of amazing workers, who help people – kids, teenagers, adults, mums and dads – that have different issues. I decided that I want to be like them and help people.
So I started to turn my life around.
I am so grateful to my aunt and uncle, who helped me give up smoking and put me back in school.
It was hard to give up smoking, because when I got angry or stressed smoking would calm me down.
It was not that hard to quit drugs. I knew that all around the world, a lot of teenagers die and have health issues from doing drugs. I did not want to be like them.
Now I want to be a leader in my community. To stop alcohol, drugs and violence.
I want to help parents get their kids to school.
If my dad was here today he would say:
“My beautiful baby girl, I am very proud of you for what you are achieving. Keep up your good work and stay in school. You will grow up to be someone you never dreamed you could be.”
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