From as far back as I can remember, I had one clear dream: I wanted to be an action hero. My grandmother introduced me to films like Rambo and Bloodsport, and I was hooked. Something about the larger-than-life characters, the fight, the grit, the triumph, it stirred something in me. My grandmother was a huge part of my childhood. She often took my brother and me on trips during the holidays, sometimes to Tweed Heads on the New South Wales–Queensland border, sometimes camping at holiday parks. No matter where we went, the time we spent with her was always special.
My parents split when I was young. My mum later got into a relationship that was far from safe. It was violent, loud, and left both my brother and me scarred in ways I didn’t fully understand until much later. I can still see the images of my mother bloodied after beatings, something that happened far too often. That man was kind to us boys but cruel to her, and the fear of those years settled deep in me. We lived in Bowral, a small town south of Sydney. While I had friends and even a girlfriend who doubled as my best friend, much of my time was split between moments of normal childhood joy and the shadow of violence at home.
Eventually, my mum decided she’d had enough and moved us north to follow my grandmother. For years we shifted from house to house, never really settling, sometimes with little more than the bags we carried. Just when we thought we’d escaped, Mum’s ex resurfaced, and the cycle of moving and uncertainty began again. I lost count of the times I had to leave friends behind, never saying goodbye, never seeing them again. At some point, I stopped getting attached to anyone or anything.
My father was mostly absent. I’d occasionally call him and ask when he would visit. He always promised he’d come, but for about ten years, he never did. Eventually, I stopped asking, and I gave up on the idea of having a dad. Meanwhile, Mum’s partner landed in prison after things fell apart for the final time. By then, my brother and I had already seen more blood, fear, and violence before our teenage years than anyone ever should.
When I finally settled into one primary school for years five and six, and then later into high school, life began to stabilize. Yet the scars were there. At one parent-teacher interview, I remember my teacher telling my mother he could only imagine me digging trenches when I grew up. Around the same time, I was beaten badly and ended up in hospital. That incident introduced me to boxing, and although my coach once called me lazy, those words flipped a switch in me. I decided I would never again let anyone define me like that.
I had always been the small, weak, weird kid, the one trying to fit in but never quite succeeding. By high school, I was determined to change. I hustled, selling cigarettes stolen from a shop I worked at, even to teachers at times. Soon, I slipped into a darker path, tied up in gangs and working under a dealer by the age of fifteen. I was told to start my own crew for backup, to avoid drawing too much police attention, and to keep my family in the dark. At the time, it seemed exciting, even empowering. I made money and bought the things I thought mattered, sneakers, jewelry, whatever caught my eye. But beneath it, I was still just that kid trying to be someone.
As I got older, though, something shifted. I began realizing I didn’t want the violence, the crime, or the darkness. I wanted something brighter. That’s when I turned my focus back to my first love: acting. I wanted to build a career not just in front of the camera but as someone who could use his story to spread positivity.
My life has been a mix of pain, fear, anger, and loss. But it’s also taught me resilience. Today, I push for a mindset built on hope, self-belief, and laughter. I know I can’t change the whole world, but I can change myself, and maybe in doing so, I can inspire others to do the same. I want my two sons to see a man who overcame his past, who turned struggles into strength, and who chose positivity over bitterness.
This year, I’ve set my sights high. I want to land speaking roles, take big steps in my acting career, and keep promoting mental health and positivity along the way. My biggest inspiration is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, his discipline, his drive, and his refusal to back down from challenges. That’s the kind of legacy I hope to leave behind.
As 2022 began, instead of going out drinking, I chose to hit the gym and focus on opportunities. Within the first few weeks, I had auditions, photoshoots, and even a role in a short film. It feels like just the beginning, but for me, the start is everything.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: no matter where you come from, what you’ve been through, or how impossible your dreams may seem, if you want it badly enough and put in the work, you can make it happen. I’ve lived through darkness, but now I choose light. And I hope others do too.
Stay strong. Stay positive. Never give up.
