A Journey of Independence, Dreams, and Resilience

My mother is now 100 years old, and she was shocked when I told her that I didn’t want to be a housewife. She had a vision for me, one that revolved around staying at home, raising one child, and keeping a perfectly clean house. But my father—thankfully—had a different vision for my future. He always pushed me to be independent, to stand on my own two feet. He wanted me to have an education, to go further in life, and to create my own path.

Back in the 80s, the opportunities for women were quite limited. Society expected us to follow a fairly narrow route: nurses or hairdressers. I had bigger dreams, though. I wanted to be a computer programmer. But when I brought this up to my high school teachers, I was met with resistance. They pushed me away from it, suggesting I pursue something “more suitable” for women. So, I reluctantly followed their advice and chose to become a primary school teacher.

However, just as I graduated, the state government cut back on teaching jobs. So, I had to pivot again. It was a tough time, but I stumbled into recruitment—and I loved it. Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of roles, both in government and in the community. The satisfaction of helping someone reach their potential and guiding them toward success has been one of the greatest gifts my career could ever give me.

When I got married, my mother thought all her dreams were coming true. Surely, I would leave my job, allow a man to take over my position, and settle into the role that she had always envisioned for me: housewife. But, of course, that wasn’t what happened. Her disappointment was palpable.

Then, when my father passed away, my mother doubled down on her expectations. She was always on my back to clean, clean, clean. But I remained steadfast in my desire to work. Then, I found out I was pregnant. And once again, I refused to leave my job. In fact, I received a promotion during that time and continued to grow my career in recruitment. I became what some might call a "supermum"—balancing work, children, and maintaining a clean house with the support of my wonderful husband, who also worked.

By the time our third child was on the way, my mother finally gave up asking me if I was going to leave work. The statement that stuck with me was: “I suppose you’re not going to leave work now, are you? You are not houseproud!”

Over the years, life has been busy, but incredibly rewarding. I wouldn’t change a thing. My children have grown into wonderful, independent adults, and my career has continued to flourish. I strongly believe that when one door closes, another opens. Every challenge, every twist in the road, has taught me something valuable and pushed me to be the best version of myself.

So, what am I trying to say? It's all about you and what you want in life. No one else can define your dreams or your journey. Go for it. Never stop dreaming, never stop striving for more, and never let anyone tell you that you can’t have it all.