The Girl Who Wouldn’t Give Up: Anna’s Story

Anna’s story begins not in a classroom, but in a car.

When she first came to LIVEfree Project in Year 7, she and her mother and siblings were living out of a vehicle, moving from place to place, trying to find some semblance of stability in a world that had given her very little.

The challenges she faced weren’t small: domestic violence, housing instability, deep-seated trauma, and the invisible weight of growing up in an environment where trust had been broken too many times.

School felt impossible. Attendance was near zero. Her social anxiety made connecting with peers and teachers seem like a mountain too steep to climb. Her intellect and curiosity were bright, but the harsh circumstances around her pressed down, making hope feel distant. Many days, she felt invisible, overlooked, and entirely alone.

It was through our Shine On Mentoring Program that Anna first experienced the transformative power of consistent, caring presence. At first, it wasn’t about grand gestures or life-changing interventions. It was simply about someone showing up, week after week, without fail.

“I didn’t know anyone would care that much,” Anna recalls. “Just knowing someone was waiting for me each week made a difference I can’t even explain.”

From those small beginnings, a bridge of trust slowly formed. Anna started to open up about her experiences, her fears, and her dreams — things she had never voiced to anyone before. Mentors guided her gently, helping her navigate social situations, build confidence, and envision a future she had never allowed herself to imagine.

Shine On positioned Anna with the confidence to join a local youth program, and it marked a turning point in her journey. For the first time, she experienced genuine friendship, a sense of belonging, and the reassuring knowledge that she could participate in a community without fear of judgment.

These relationships were small sparks that ignited hope. They showed her that she could belong somewhere, and that belonging was not conditional on perfection or performance. It was grounded in human connection.

Through ongoing support, Anna transitioned to an alternative learning environment. The change was profound. Her attendance, which had hovered near 2%, skyrocketed to 97%. Each day she showed up, she carried not only her backpack but a growing sense of self-worth.

By the time she graduated with her Year 10 RoSA, she was no longer just a student struggling to survive, she was celebrated for her determination, resilience, and growth.

But Anna’s story doesn’t end at graduation.

Inspired by the support she received and the transformations she experienced, she made a deliberate choice: she wanted to become someone in someone else’s story, the way her mentors had been in hers.

“I want to be someone in someone else’s story like you were in mine,” she said.

With those words, she set a new course: studying Community Services and dedicating herself to helping others navigate the challenges she once faced.

Even as she achieved these milestones, challenges didn’t vanish. Trauma has a way of leaving traces that linger. But Anna now had tools, skills, and a circle of support to rise above these obstacles. She learned to set boundaries, manage conflict in healthy ways, and seek support when needed.

She wasn’t just surviving anymore — she was thriving.

Today, Anna is the first in her family to pursue and complete tertiary education. She has secured employment and actively contributes to the very community that once carried her. Her life is a living testament to the power of safe, intentional support — spaces that allow young people to grow, dream, and heal.

Anna’s journey illustrates something profoundly important: resilience is cultivated, not inherited. Safe spaces do more than heal. They create opportunities for transformation, hope, and the rewriting of life narratives.

Each breakthrough, each smile, each moment of triumph is a reminder that when someone shows up, truly shows up, lives can be changed.

Her story is also a reminder of the ripple effect.

The courage and support that Anna received now flow outward, touching peers, family members, and the broader community. By breaking cycles of trauma, she is rewriting the story for her family, for the young people she mentors, and for those who witness her determination.

She is now a role model for the rest of her siblings, who have different dreams because they have seen what’s possible.

In Anna’s words:

“It wasn’t easy. There were days I wanted to give up. But the people who believed in me , those who just showed up and cared, they made all the difference. Now I want to be that difference for someone else.”

Anna is living proof that perseverance, connection, and care can change a life — and a community. Through her story, she inspires all of us to remember the transformative power of presence, hope, and belief in what is possible.