This is how your support brings dreams to life

I’m a proud Kamilaroi woman from Wagga Wagga and the second-born of seven children.

I’ve always loved helping people and find joy in teaching and sharing the things I am passionate about. Growing up, my dream has always been to become an English teacher.

Having a big household meant that my parents were stretched financially. But Dad always wanted me and my siblings to receive the learning support we needed to achieve our dreams. When I was in Year 9, he signed up for The Smith Family’s Learning for Life sponsorship.

I began to receive financial and personal support. Sponsorship connected me with a Learning for Life Coordinator called Chris. Chris was so invested in my education. She was there when I was named school captain! With Chris, I felt like I had someone on my team pushing me through. She helped me believe in myself.

The sponsorship also helped me to buy a laptop when I entered Year 11. I remember everyone in class needed access to digital tools to participate fully. That laptop was crucial for me, because I was taking a university class via distance education. Passing that class gave me early entry into a teaching degree!

To pursue my dream, I moved to Sydney on my own to do a Bachelor of Arts and Education. It was the biggest thing I’ve ever done. A few months into university, we went into COVID lockdown. I didn’t see my family for months. I was trapped in an unknown city with people I didn’t know that well.

But I was determined to continue with my education. My amazing sponsor continued to support me throughout my degree. This has helped me pay for textbooks and other learning essentials. Another Learning for Life Coordinator, Eve would check in to see how I was going and that really helped.

Now, I’m going into my fourth year of university. If it weren’t for The Smith Family and my sponsor, my future could have been very different. I am the first person in my family to go to university - I’m very proud of that. I can now help answer my younger siblings’ questions about university that no one could answer for me.

My dream is to teach in rural and remote communities. I want to help bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. I am determined to help ensure all kids have the resources to achieve their dreams. That’s what my sponsor, family, and teachers have done for me.