She has survived anorexia and child abuse, and has shared her story with girls across Canberra. Now Rachael Stevens' courage is being recognised nationally.
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The 23-year-old from Weston Creek was the only ACT resident announced as a finalist in the National Youth Awards last month.
Ms Stevens, who spoke to 600 secondary students last year about resilience in the face of adversity, was surprised to learn she was one of four finalists in the youth courage category.
"I filled out an application for the award and I was just really honest - they asked what are my greatest strengths and I pretty much said I was vulnerable and able to be honest in front of big groups of people," she said.
The aspiring author and artist said her openness in telling her story had encouraged many girls to share their anxieties with her.
"Every single time I speak in a school, I will always have five girls tell me they suffer with anorexia or have depression or have attempted suicide," she said.
"Family breakdown is huge, and abuse, cyber-bullying. And a lot of them say to me, all the time, that 'I just don't feel that I have a purpose'."
Ms Stevens released paintings and a book in December sharing her long battle with anorexia and depression as a child and young adult. She also survived many years of sexual abuse during her early teens.
Her aim for 2015 is to speak to and encourage 1000 students, including interstate.
"My whole thing this year is re-write your story - every young person can re-write it - your past doesn't have to be your prison," she said.
Ms Stevens' resilience is also evident in other areas of her life. This year she is returning to university to finish her Arts degree, having left three times, most recently in 2013.
Lake Tuggeranong College executive teacher Jackie Vaughan said Ms Stevens' willingness to talk about her struggles as a young person had been valuable for the school's students.
"She talked about the hardest times in her life ... her talk was impacting, honest and engaging," Ms Vaughan said.
National Youth Week runs from April 10 to 19. Ms Stevens will take home $2,000, a trophy and certificate if she is successful at the awards ceremony in Brisbane on April 16.
