Anastacia: “You are part of my success”

Today, when 16-year-old Anastacia leaves for school, the terrible dread she once felt is replaced with excitement. She has a spring in her step and a smile. Life holds promise. She has less fear about the future.

“A few years ago, my mum got cancer,” says Anastacia. “It was a really rough time. We didn’t have much money — life was very stressful.”

During high school, Anstacia’s mum tried hard to help her with schoolwork and to plan for her future. But so much of her mum’s energy had to be focused on cancer recovery and financial survival. There was no way she could help her daughter as much as she’d like. 

With so much uncertainty, Anastacia felt anxious. She didn’t want to go to class. She was at risk of leaving school early and with no career or training prospects could face a lifetime of disadvantage. Anastacia needed urgent support to help her see her potential and help her plan for her future — her employment, education and training.

Fortunately, when things felt so hopeless, Anastacia was invited to join The Smith Family’s iTrack online mentoring program. iTrack matches students in Years 9 to 11 with a supportive volunteer mentor. Anastacia was paired with caring, approachable Joanne, who could give her the encouragement and guidance to plan for her future. This changed everything.

“Every week I could talk to Joanne and tell her about how I was feeling about my future,” says Anastacia. “I could let myself be open and relaxed, which was really, really nice.”

However, the mentoring offered more than chats – soon, Joanne was guiding Anastacia through the practical steps to get her first casual job at a fast-food restaurant.

“Joanne helped me with my resume and prepared me for the job interview … what to expect and the kind of questions I’d have to answer,” she says. "A few weeks after my interview, I got the job. I was really, really excited. My friends were so happy for me.”

Today, Anastacia no longer looks for excuses to stay away from school. She doesn’t get that sick feeling in her stomach when she imagines her life ahead. Thanks to the support she received, which you made possible, the future is now wide open. Anastacia is considering a career after school as an army nurse — and she knows the vital ingredient to get her there:

“Education is really important, because it gives you more opportunities to do what you want to do in the future,” she says.

“I want to say thank you to Joanne, to my supporters and to the whole Smith Family community,” she says. “You have really changed my life for the better. We are all in this together: you are part of my success. I’m just really, really happy.”