00:00 Back when I was with Child Protection, my life was really intense.
00:13 I was having lots of family issues at home and issues with education.
00:20 My mum was in the hospice.
00:21 I felt like I had a straitjacket on like 24/7.
00:25 I knew I had to be strong, you know.
00:27 But deep down inside, I'm being torn apart.
00:33 I met Sonia when I went into care.
00:36 A lot of people think social workers are going to swoop in and make choices for you.
00:40 But actually it was more being empowered and to do things for myself.
00:45 Sharon was one of the social workers there.
00:47 She knew what I was thinking before I even thought it.
00:50 As opposed to like your traditional counsellor, she gives me prompts.
00:54 She helps me with resolutions.
00:56 She helps me to move forward day by day.
00:59 Social workers are very much led by you.
01:01 They're there to empower what you want.
01:04 I think after that first session, I was like, "I need this. 100%"
01:08 If I'm being brutally honest, like, Sharon saved my life.
01:13 You know, she listens, she understands.
01:16 Made me feel like everything's going to be alright
01:18 because the only other person that did that was my mum.
01:21 At first, I had the big impression that social workers were here
01:25 to come take me away from my mum.
01:27 But actually, it's like, you know when you're running a race
01:30 and there's someone waiting for you at the finish line?
01:31 Sonia is that person at the end of the track.
01:35 Sharon changed my life and I will be eternally grateful forever.
01:39 [Music]
