Melbourne

I just read yours, and I'm so sorry. You have been through so much at such a young age.

I moved around a lot too, lived in approx 15 houses before I was an adult, and then another 3 times after that. Mostly around SE Melbourne though (The Basin, Croydon, Lysterfield, Knoxfield, etc.)Low-income family as well.

It's traumatic, not being able to form lasting connections with your peers, and being just that slightly different from the "norm" they expect. The verbal and physical abuse is insane when you don't "fit in" or have a sense of belonging, almost like our peers could smell it or sense it somehow. Rabid scoundrels. I read so many books, fantasy, horror, sci-fi, history, etc so it was difficult for my school to realise I needed help, they just saw me as absent but quiet and intelligent when present. Pushed me into VCE because they needed the stats for funding lol. I should have been put into the VCE Vocational, because there was no way my grades were so good as to get into Uni lol

I can say, reading your posts here and that post detailing your experiences, you are incredibly intelligent and wise (though wisdom does often cost more than it ought to); you certainly know things I didn't at your age. You shouldn't have had to grow up experiencing any of that, but you are a well rounded, kind human. Seriously, I'm not just saying that. As long as you are not afraid to ask for help when you need it, things will work out for you. They already seem to be and you certainly have my support! If you need help, I will do my best to assist if you ask 💜

You carry your kindness, your wisdom, and you take the silver linings from the black clouds and weave the person you want to be from those. Kindness, cleverness, intelligence, and empathy, while keeping yourself safe, will lead you to long lasting happiness and success; whatever that may look like. We are more than the sum of our past.

You got this Baku, and we're here for you should you need us.