When Lily was in Year 9, she struggled to attend school.
She was trying to cope with the symptoms of ADHD – as well as her nan’s cancer diagnosis, her parents’ separation and the ongoing effects of a traumatic incident the year before.
“I kind of gave up on everything,” Lily recalls.
“When you’re in such a negative head space, it’s like you’re in a different world to everyone else. You’re just trying to get through one day at a time, and not really thinking about the future.
“It got to the point where I didn’t think I’d finish Year 9 – let alone high school.”
Lily and her mum were called in for a meeting with the deputy principal. That’s when Lily learned about Youth Off The Streets’ Chapel School for the first time – and the possible consequences of her situation.
“Either I fixed my attendance, or my mum would get taken to court,” she remembers.
“The look on her face made the decision for me. Things had to change.”
At first, the new environment at Chapel School was daunting. But Lily’s comfort with her surroundings grew over time.
“Early on, I learned how to understand different people and be grateful for what I have,” she says of her early days at Chapel.
“This came from sitting down and talking with my peers, because everyone has a story. And when other people tell you about their challenges, it can put things into perspective for you.”
Lily also credits the teachers at Chapel School with expanding her horizons.
“Nate, who was the School Manager of Chapel at the time, is great,” she says. “He’s such a straight shooter. Thanks to him, I started getting involved in more activities like surfing and ice skating, and my confidence improved.”
Around the same time, a student support youth worker named Mel helped Lily to compile her resume and obtain her first job.
Lily also earned her white card, Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Service of Gambling (RCG) certificates through Youth Off The Streets’ employment workshops.
“I love working so much,” Lily says.
“I don’t think I’ve been unemployed for longer than a few months since I was 15.
“Working is so good for my financial freedom, but also my confidence – and that’s what helped me become the first female on my dad’s side of the family to graduate high school.”
Lily’s journey from Year 9 to 12 wasn’t always plain sailing.
She transitioned to the Step Up program for her senior years of high school but was still facing challenges in her life – challenges that were again impacting her schooling.
“I was put on probation, so I was only allowed to come to school after hours. But that’s when my favourite teacher, Mr T., came along.
“Mr T. was amazing,” she continues. “He sat with me and taught me everything one-on-one.”
“I credit a lot of my progress to him, and Nate, especially.”
Today, Lily is studying for her Certificate IV in Project Management Practice.
“I’m working in infrastructure, with buildings,” she explains.
“I’ve just finished up my Statement of Attainment at TAFE, where I’ve done a different subject each week – like Communication Studies, producing business documents and putting together spreadsheets.”
“Soon, I’ll start my placement. They put you in three different rotations – consultancy, government and private – so you get to experience all different places for eight months each.”
“I’m also doing a fully paid apprenticeship with Schools Infrastructure NSW,” she adds. “There’s 58 of us kids doing it, and we were picked out of 3,000.”
Lily isn’t the only successful graduate from among her Chapel School peers. One of her friends is volunteering with the NSW State Emergency Service and studying at the police academy. Another is undertaking a nursing degree.
“The people you hang around make you who you are,” Lily says.
“I love my friends because they’re super driven and always doing things to better themselves. They push me to be better as well.”
“You really only need one person to take a chance on you – the rest is up to you.”
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