Seven survival tips for when life is full of drama

There are 15 students at our small community school in Adelaide. Many of us have attended quite a few other schools before coming here. Some of us have moved homes a lot which means we change schools too, but most of us were kicked out of our former schools.

Sometimes it’s hard to see the point in anything when things at home are full of dramas. There is always so much going on. There may be drugs, violence, living apart from parents … all this stuff affects us in different ways.

We know other kids, other families, are going through this stuff too.

So here are our 7 survival tips … we hope they might be helpful to you. You may be able to add to these, put your on context into what is included.

1. Talking to the teacher, if I am tired at school.

We have teachers who let us have time out, if we come to school too tired. I stayed up until 3:30am with worry one night, so the teacher let me have some time out. That was good.

2. My nan

My nan lets me go to the city or the beach. Like at the weekend, I saw all my best friends for years and we went to the mall and the skate park in the city. There is a temporary skate park there now but we still go there. Nan trusts me and knows I won’t do anything bad.

3. Having a life plan

At 14 I am going to get a job at McDonalds and get my life together. I want to be wealthy. I will help kids with cancer as I would not want to be like that. I want to own a business and sell skateboards and stuff. I might go to the high school nearby to see my old friends. But I need to get good grades first.

4. Remembering our school is better than the last one.

Kids here are nicer than at my old school. I am not threatened every day like there. It’s not too bad here actually.

5. Making up to the teacher if we upset them

I gave the teacher flowers yesterday. We had a bad day the day before. She has been my teacher for one year and three months.

6. Remembering I am good at something

I am good at numeracy.

7. Doing things that help us forget the dramas

I have a PS4 and I am good at it. I am going to the Ramp Fest in Melbourne. (Skateboarding).

I love shopping with friends. I get a rush of happiness in me when I’m with my friends.

What are your tips?

College Counsellors, Chloe and Tim, would love to hear from you!

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