Team 2: Personal Profile -
Renee
Tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, about a
size 10-12, I want to be a little slimmer but then I’d probably look
lanky. I have diabetes (Type 1) so that creates even more responsibility in
my life. I am extremely strict though about managing it.
Fun, patient, friendly, independent,
responsible, intelligent and ambitious.
I have two best friends. At school it is
Tash. She is a ray of sunshine that girl, she always knows what to
say at the right time. I guess that’s the thing about best friends…
they are pretty in tune with what you are thinking.
My other best friend is the boy who lives next door, Jordan. We have
lived next to each other our whole life. Even though when he was
young he used to be horrible to me, I have come to rely on him for
company and support since mum passed on. He is thinking about
quitting school next year to do mechanics, but I am trying to advise
him against it because he is so smart.
If I have to get involved in anything
I will, but I think the teachers and friends have basically given up
on asking me because I am not very good at committing to things
which aren’t important.
I don’t have time for community service. My
service is to look after my father and the house. I know it might
appear selfish, and I am a compassionate person, but I have enough
problems of my own.
Likewise with the community service… I don’t
have time to really be a part of any organisations. I have a
dedication to my dad and to my friends and most importantly to
myself.
| Money?
|
Money
really irritates me, in the sense that I never really have
all that much. It truly does come and go. I remember us when
I was younger being financially comfortable. Now it seems to
be a daily struggle to pay the bills and keep on top of
things. I hide money all the time from dad simply so that I
can go out with my friends and maybe buy some nice clothes.
If I didn’t I know it would be spent at the pub or bottle
shop. |
|
Possessions?
|
I love getting
new things because I know that I deserve them. I am envious
of people who have more than me, but I understand that in
order to get ahead in life, I have to do it for myself.
No-one else can. |
| Religion?
|
It’s only
recently that I realised the value of religion. Although I
don’t go to church and religion isn’t talked about in our
house. I lost faith when I lost mum, I hated god for a fair
few years. I believe in fate and know that one day things
will work out. I still have faith that dad will be ok soon.
|
|
Marriage?
|
I guess if it
happens it happens. Although I don’t want to end up old,
grey and alone. |
| Politics?
|
I don’t
keep up with politics. I have more important things on my
mind. Although I do like the welfare system because it is
basically the means of my financial support and they really
do help out. |
I rely a lot on others to make me happy, and
this means that I try to have as many friends as possible. I am I
guess what one would call pretty popular, but only my two closest
friends really have an idea about what my life is all about. I try
to make the most of relationships, because I have witnessed first
hand that you don’t know how long you are going to have those close
to you around for.
In an ideal world what would be
your 5 year plan?
Hopefully to be moved out of home, have qualification and be working
full-time in child care. I just want to be happier in 5 years time
than I am now.
What things are standing in the way of achieving this?
I know that I have the capability of getting into TAFE to do child
care or even Early Childhood at uni, but I am concerned about not being able to support myself
financially. I am also worried about dad being left at home alone
without me. I am not sure if he will cope.
What might be some of the solutions?
I will have to continue getting government support and perhaps even
look towards getting some casual or part-time work. I think I need
to talk a little bit more around my dad about my future. That way he
can be better prepared when the time comes for me to leave home. I
am just afraid that he might break down if he hears that I am
leaving.
How will you support yourself if you decide on further training
after school?
I am hoping that working and youth allowance will be enough to live
and support me through TAFE or uni. I will most definitely have to flat with
other people because I definitely can’t afford to live by myself. My
grandma is also pretty helpful when it comes to money, so I might be
leaning on her a little while I get on my feet.
Mum died when I was 11 years old.
Before she died, we were a pretty happy little family. Unfortunately
dad took it really badly and turned to the bottle instead of
grieving properly. Dad and I love each other heaps, although
sometimes things get a little tough at home and he can become
violent. I try to stay in his good books and keep the house tidy.
Dad really is a good guy, he is just going through a rough time and
is yet to confront his problems. Despite all of this we are
basically all each other have, and I know that he does care about me
and my future he just has a nasty way of showing it.
What is important as far as values go?
That I keep the set that I have.
And that I become the woman that my mother always believed I could
be.
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