Last Tuesday some members from the Rotary Club of Caloundra attended the Graduation Ceremony of the STEMM program at the RSL Club in Nambour. It was a first for Club President Chris Rees and his wife Lin, but for club members Judy Clark, Merv and Anne Paddison, Ron and Bernie Strong, Deb Taylor, Sally Todd, Ron and Bernie Strong it was one of many invited attendances.
We were there to support Jacqui Deane and her team and also to present the Lyn Roberts Bursary to another worthy recipient.
This Bursary was agreed by the Board and supported by the Club in 2018 in memory of Lyn who was a long term member of the club and an avid supporter of the STEMM program. He was the father of program Director Jacqui Deane. Sadly he passed away after a long illness in November 2018.
This year’s recipient is Makayla Kelly and this is her story.
Good Morning, my name is Makayla. I am 22 years old and I have a 3-year-old daughter called Mia. I am graduating STEMM with my TPP Certificate, Barista Certificate and Cert 2 in Business. I will try my hardest to keep it as PG as possible, but we all know that is not my strongest suit.
Good Morning, my name is Makayla. I am 22 years old and I have a 3-year-old daughter called Mia. I am graduating STEMM with my TPP Certificate, Barista Certificate and Cert 2 in Business. I will try my hardest to keep it as PG as possible, but we all know that is not my strongest suit.
I grew up a middle child raised by a single mother and my father was constantly in and out of our lives. We moved around often until moved to Maroochydore River and finally made ourselves a home for 9 years. My mother at times maintained 3 jobs just to be able to look after us girls and care for herself in ways children could never fix.
I grew up watching my mother deal her own issues. My mother did the best she could to ensure we were safe, cared for and well loved despite what she battled in her life.
I struggled through school following directions, fitting in and socialising. I was lost and confused for a very long time.
I was in year 7 when I started smoking cigarettes. Year 8 I was introduced to cannabis and alcohol, and by the end of year 10, I was heavily using anything I could get my hands on. By the age of 16 I was addicted to ICE and it wasn’t long until I started using needles.
I had fallen into a downward spiral that I couldn’t find my way out of. I had lost a lot of people in my life; my partner and I were homeless and living out of our beaten up two door Citron. We moved to 6 different houses in 6 months and often drove to Gympie and back over night just to have a roof over our heads. We lucked out and finally moved into our first share house together in Maroochydore. Let’s just say they weren’t the nicest people, so we got out of there pretty quickly.
Next, we moved to my friend Sophie’s house in Buderim. We met in Primary and Highschool and honestly, I was so drugged up I didn’t even remember her, (she does know that) I was honestly just so glad to have a roof over ours heads, finally! By this point I was 18 and I had been heavily using ICE and other substances for well over two years and I reached the point of using needles by the time I hit rock bottom.
I got clean and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I thought I was suffering from withdrawals after being clean for roughly 3 weeks, so we headed to the Doctors. The last thing I expected to hear was that “You are up the duff” as my doctor shockingly told me.
Panicked and flustered Jake, Mia’s dad and I head off to work still trying to process the life changing news we just heard.
At this point I had no idea where my life was going let alone bringing a baby into the wildness we had just been living. The questions came rushing in... Could I stay clean? Is this the right decision? Can I support this baby?
I was still truly and utterly shocked that I was even pregnant.
A few weeks go by before I remembered about a few friends who had fallen pregnant even younger than I had and decided to join the STEMM program. Another few months go by before I finally decided to call and find out how I can become a part of this program and create this opportunity for myself.
When I made the decision to join STEMM, I was emotionally weak, vulnerable and dependant. I was depressed and still trying to deal with the emotional and physical aspects of being clean after using for so many years.
By the time I was 6 months pregnant I was still working and now a carer for my partner who had torn his ACL in a moto-bike accident. I was now also responsible to do everything for my partner that he could no longer do for himself, which went on for months. I was drained and exhausted, especially being pregnant, often walking to and from work and catching buses.
The first time I walked into the double doors at STEMM I felt like somebody really saw me and not just what I was projecting to the world! People asked if I was ok and I felt like I didn’t need to lie anymore, I could honestly say I feel like shit today. STEMM has become my safe place. After spending about 3 months studying at STEMM, we found out I could no longer get funding for the Beauty Diploma due to the change in VETFEE Help and I had to unfortunately leave as I wasn’t ready to do TPP.
Which ended up being the best unfortunate thing in my life. I decided to come back roughly two years later and to do TPP in the middle of 2018. I have worked extremely hard over the past year and a half to ensure I achieved the best grades I possibly could. I received all Distinctions and High Distinctions while at UNI and passed both of my other elective courses and I hope to study within Law next year at USC. As well as obtaining my first aid training, car maintenance, cooking lessons, counselling, equine therapy, self-defence classes as well as Polish and Perform Certificates through the Beacon Foundation.
So many life-long lessons and friendships I will never be able to gain anywhere else. STEMM is such an incredible opportunity and I will always recommend to any young mother I come across.
I have grown in so many ways I never dreamed possible. I have goals and ambitions now; I have strength and determination.
My Daughter Mia thrived within the crèche. The support and nurture from all the beautiful ladies that surrounded my child was endless. From the diapers, to food hampers and fuel vouchers. We will be forever thankful and endlessly appreciative for the support we both have been provided.
I always wonder where my life would have led if I did not have STEMM to support me and be a constant guiding light in my life. Now, I wonder where my life will lead without them. I am truly sad to be graduating but I am so excited for my future for my family and me.
I will be forever thankful for all the assistance and opportunities STEMM have provided.
Thank you so much for listening.