When I applied for a scholarship to Larita Academy, I was really looking for two things: to understand what the program was about and to figure out where I wanted to take my future.

At the time, I was already working across two casual jobs, but I still wasn't sure what success looked like for me or where I wanted my life to go. I hoped Larita might help me find some direction.

One of the biggest surprises was realising how similar successful people are to the rest of us. Before the Academy, it was easy to look at successful people and assume they were somehow different. Hearing their stories showed me that many of them started from ordinary places, faced challenges, made mistakes, and simply kept moving forward.

A turning point for me was listening to Larry Kestelman talk about his journey and how he found success. As I listened, I realised how alike our stories were. That moment challenged a lot of assumptions I had about success and who gets to achieve it.

Success isn't defined by the money in your account but by how much you smile and enjoy life.

That lesson has stayed with me ever since.

Before Larita, I probably measured success differently. Now, my perspective has completely changed. I learned that success is not about how much money you have. It's about what you want to achieve and the life you want to build for yourself.

The Academy also taught me practical lessons that I use every day. I learned about job hopping, being honest with employers, and the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone. One of the biggest things I took away is that doing new things often requires being uncomfortable.

Today, I try to do one new thing every day.

Since graduating, I've gained employment in another career, bringing the total to three different companies. I'm proud of that achievement, but I'm also proud that I've become more confident standing up to unfair decisions and speaking up for myself when something doesn't feel right.

Looking back, Larita helped me understand what my own version of success looks like. It gave me a different perspective on life and reminded me that opportunities don't always arrive exactly when you expect them.

Larita won't change your life, but they will give you skills to make you write your own successful story.

That quote sums up my experience perfectly. Larita didn't hand me a future. It gave me tools, confidence, and a different way of thinking. What I do with those things is up to me.

For anyone considering applying, my advice is simple: keep an open mind. The lessons might not be the ones you expect, but they will stay with you.

For me, Larita was an opportunity to better understand myself, define success on my own terms, and realise that life is what you make it.