Selectively Juggling

Personally, growing up as the 8th child of 10 kids to 6th generation Australian parents (cultural heritage mixes of English, Irish, Scottish, Spanish and Finnish/Norwegian) led me to understand first-hand poverty, resilience and self-acceptance. I don’t subscribe to a class-based society, as I believe we are all the same. What separates us is our actions and how we treat each other. My cultural experiences have led me to value self-agency, speaking up and being counted, as well as speaking up for others. I can’t ignore the fact that as a white Australian I live on an incredible land that still carries the deep deep scars of colonialism and colonisation. I have a deep respect, fascinating and love of Indigenous Australian histories and cultures. I can’t ignore that my story is intertwined with historical events, and future aspirations for a healed Australia. I believe in social mobility, the reality that just because someone is born in a particular lower socioeconomic group, doesn’t prevent them from accessing good health, social and educational resources, and realising their dreams. I believe my humble beginnings that were forged with humility, compassion and trauma have helped create a strong, courageous and emotionally intelligent person, who believes in real social justice and equity. I just need to back myself more and perhaps lose the shackles of imposter syndrome.