Shelby's educational journey took a transformative turn when she joined Carinity Education Southside in March 2022.
Inspired by her cousin's success at the school, Shelby took a brave step toward a brighter future.
"My cousin went to the same school I was at before Southside, and she moved to Southside a few years before I did," Shelby said.
"I would always hear at family gatherings how she was doing so much better, and I always wondered if I could go to this school and be given a second chance at success."
Prior to Carinity Education Southside, Shelby had faced significant challenges at school, including a lack of support and bullying.
"I felt like there was something wrong with me as I struggled to get through the work and I wasn't helped, even when I asked for it. I also went through some bullying and discriminatory harassment," she said.
With a sense of determination, Shelby made the transition to Southside. Changing schools marked a turning point in her journey.
"When I moved to Southside, it was like my world of education was flipped around. They give you so much support and purely focus on bettering the students. The Southside community is just so beautiful, and I'm so grateful I've been a part of that.
"We all come from different paths, yet we all make a collective effort to learn and grow together. The connections I've made here are genuinely life changing," Shelby said.
"No matter what anyone goes through, we all do our best to support each other. I find that beautiful."
Among her many supporters, Shelby especially values her relationship with Sharon, her youth worker.
"I always go to Sharon if I need to get things off my chest or talk about anything in general. She always does her best to support me and my peers, and I appreciate that from the bottom of my heart," Shelby said.
Shelby's passion for science was ignited at Southside, thanks to her teacher Natalie.
"If it wasn't for me moving to Southside, I wouldn't have known how much I love science. One of the units Natalie brought up was forensics, which really piqued my interest in science. Now I've discovered it is my dream career," Shelby said.
Shelby is set to graduate with a Certificate II in Visual Arts and a Certificate II in Hospitality - both valuable qualifications for her future job search.
She is also pursuing a Certificate II in Sampling and Measurement outside of school and plans to move on to a Certificate III in Laboratory Skills to enhance her chances of university admission.
Looking ahead, Shelby is focused on achieving her goal of studying forensics at Griffith University and becoming a forensic scientist.
"I'm going to be honest. I know I'll miss Southside deeply once I graduate. But I look forward to watching Southside flourish even further knowing that my whole future is thanks to them, their love, their support, and their community," she said.
