How Poverty and Domestic Violence Helped Me.

My mother was left at the hospital as a baby, she was an orphan and spent her formative years in an orphanage until she was unluckily adopted. I say unluckily because she was then subsequently horrifically abused by her adoptive parents. She was young, but even in her raw youth at the mere age of 13 she made a life changing decision and ran away from this unhomely home- never to return. She lied about her age to get jobs, and if she was lucky would try to have shelter at night. Then one glorious day she met my (biological) father, she had children with this charming successful man who 'painted the town yellow' if ever he was around, until he started painting in red, blood. He tormented my mother and kept a gun in the house and threatened her life daily, so my siblings and I went into a refuge. 

Leaving him meant she yet again had nothing, no real means by which she could survive, let alone raise a family. She was now a single mother of five children (four under 2 yo) with no money. I grew up in a commission home, went to the worst school, wore second-hand clothes, got food hamper handouts, missed out on school camps, never had a single family holiday or even a weekend away - we didn't even have a family car. I had the same child-sized bed for basically my whole teenage-hood and my feet touched the end.

To think my mother was able to raise us so well and keep on going she is the most courageous fighter I have known as much as my upbringing was very unfortunate but fortunate all at once, she is the most inspirational person I have had the luck of knowing. She made me passionate and determined.

Basically the moral of my story here is, nothing about your past determines your future, truly it doesn't.

I am writing this not for me- but for you- no matter what it is that you may go through in life. At 24 even I know life is so incredibly fragile, and short-lived, so you really need to live. Having nothing gave me everything. Having nothing taught me how to turn rotten-bananas into banana cake. I am a big advocate for all people, whether female, male, black, white, poor, rich- everyone in life faces challenges.

I have such a rewarding business, I get people amazing jobs, and I get my clients awesome talent who just thrive at work and help their business grow. I can help organisations hire more women and make a difference to gender issues making the work environment more rounded. I can help new migrants land their first role in Australia, I give shy IT introverts a bit of confidence and show them how amazing their skill set is. I can help men make better choices for their next career move if they struggle to get help from others, and I can help graduates kick-start their career. Recently, I received a call and was told I am the 14th most influential linkedIN profile in all of Australia and New Zealand which blew me away. I was today invited to the Blue Dragon Oscars Charity Ball and such an honour to help promote them as they help young people, just like my mother was.

If it weren't for the help of Berry street, La Trobe University, The Salvation Army, The Smith Family and more, and of course my mother I would not be who I am today. So next time you question to give or not to give. That coffee you are drinking- That $4.00 literally means so much to struggling families, That's milk for the kids breakfast, or a top at an op-shop to land that job, or that Myki pass to get to school or that event or even that date that gives you confidence and forms healthy relationships and helps you feel hope. Not all poor people are bad, and not all people living in poverty are overseas. Never forget too, it's not just the poor who face challenges, everyone does. If the rich person loses their multi-million dollar mansion- it's the same hurt and pain felt that a homeless person would feel losing their shelter. Struggling is hard, but it is especially hard if you are not used to it.

Big business should give, small businesses should give, allow staff a paid day off to volunteer, run competitions in the office aimed to win prizes to give to charity. I'm in Recruitment because I love helping people, Share this article and hopefully it inspires someone you know, hopefully it relates to someone you know, hopefully it gives these organisations a bit of recognition or the struggler's in life a better chance.

Jessica Reesby

0403 233 518
[email protected]
www.reesby.com.au