Dillon's story about being apart of Changing Futures
Hi, my name is Dillon. I'm 16.
I got involved with Tusla when I was about 13 because there were problems at home with my parents. At first I was very nervous about what Tusla might think about me and my situation. Having to go to speak to someone about it was difficult, as I was afraid of being judged.
I got involved in this website project because I felt that there was no child friendly information out there for me when I needed it. I wanted to help other young people and give them a way to get information and help without feeling that fear of judgement.
Working with this group on the website has helped me build confidence and given me a new perspective on life. Before, when I wasn't involved in this project, I was stuck inside playing video games, and the virtual world is no replacement for the real one. Also, the chance to work with people of different ages and experiences had a big impact on me, as all of us had different perspectives. It really promoted my understanding of others.
Tulsa, in giving me the chance to be involved with the website project, opened up a lot of other opportunities; one of these which has stayed with me was the chance to take over the Tulsa CEO position for a day. It is such a great memory to have, as I attended events on his behalf and experienced a day in the life of the CEO.
I hope my positive personal experience accessing support, and learning from it, can help other young people through this website and the video I have made talking through the process of getting support.
