B.J., 15, NSW

The Power of dreams.

When I was five years old, my dad hit my mum. I don’t remember much of it, except that my dad packed his bag and left. I saw my dad off and on, but when I was seven the visits stopped.

On August the 24th, when I was 10, my mum began to act very strange. Her behaviour was erratic. My mother was diagnosed with bipolar and depression. It was only mum and I in the house, so whenever she had a break down I would take care of her and eventually she would need to be hospitalized in a mental institution. When she went in, she stayed for three months at a time. I had to live with my mum’s good friends. She went in to hospital every year.

When I was thirteen, my mother’s friends couldn’t take care of me any more so DOCS gave me two options: I could live with my dad who I hadn’t seen in years, or I could live in a girl’s home.

I chose to live with my dad. It was the worst decision I ever made. My nanna and my uncle lived there too. My uncle was an alcoholic. He was abusive both verbally and physically. My nanna put me down all the time. She was manipulative and domineering. I stayed in that hell for four months then my dad moved and I moved into my mum’s house. When he moved he didn’t leave. He was lazy and verbally abusive. It was the last straw. I left with mum and told the police. I had to testify. He was found guilty and I moved back home with mum.

Now I am three weeks away from my fifteen birthday and I am stronger than most. I achieve excellent grades and my mother hasn’t been in hospital in a year. I won’t have to see my dad’s family ever again.

After all the things that happened to me, I began self harming. After seeing a psychologist, I am better. I haven’t hurt myself in 6 months. I have excellent friends, a loving mother, and a happy home. I also came to terms with the fact that I am gay. I still haven’t came out, but I’m working on it.

My advice is to never stop dreaming. Believe in yourself and your dreams because they do come true. Never give up hope. My current dream is to become a psychologist and come out to my family and friends.