After earning my degree in 2013, I started my journey as a freelance graphic designer. I loved the creative freedom, the thrill of bringing ideas to life and the satisfaction of seeing my work make an impact. But in an instant, everything changed.

When my baby girl, Evelyn, was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk Neuroblastoma, my world stood still. My career, my ambitions, none of it mattered anymore. She needed me and I would have moved heaven and earth for her. I became her full-time carer, spending endless days and nights in hospital rooms, watching her fight with a strength that amazed me every single day. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Not once did I question the decision to put everything else on hold. She was my world.

Against all odds, Evelyn became cancer-free at just two years old. She was a force of nature; sassy, fearless and full of life. She taught me more about strength and resilience than I could ever put into words. But life can be unbearably cruel. At aged four, she was diagnosed with incurable lung damage caused by the very treatment that saved her. And yet, even as her body struggled, her spirit never wavered. She never let it stop her. She was incredible.

Then, at six years old, after a lifetime of fighting battles no child should ever have to face, Evelyn passed away. And with her, a part of me went too. My world shattered, leaving behind a silence so loud it was deafening. I was lost in a sea of grief, unsure how to move forward, unsure if I even wanted to.

A year passed in a blur of pain and longing. Eventually, I found myself standing at a crossroads, desperately searching for purpose, for something to fill even a fraction of the hole she left behind. That’s when I discovered Agent Academy.

Walking into that space as a programme participant was daunting. After nearly eight years out of work, I felt like an imposter, like someone who had been left behind. I was 32 and starting over, a prospect that filled me with fear. But Agent Academy became more than just a learning opportunity; it became a lifeline. It gave me the confidence to step back into the world, to make connections and to believe in myself again.

Shortly after completing the programme, I was offered a role at Agent Marketing as an assistant client partner. It was more than a job, it was a stepping stone toward rebuilding my life. I developed my skills, grew in confidence and slowly began to rediscover myself outside of grief. Then, after a year of learning and growing, I was offered my current role as programme coordinator for Agent Academy.

Now, every day is different, filled with purpose and meaning. I manage projects, create and oversee social media content, recruit new learners and engage with our alumni network. It’s fast-paced and challenging and I love every moment of it. Most of all, I love that I am part of something bigger, something that helps others find their way, just as it helped me.

Evelyn is always with me. She is my guiding light; I want to make her proud. And I will.

Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing, to refine our programmes, to create more opportunities for those who need them most. I want to expand our reach, strengthen our alumni community and ensure that no one feels like it is too late to start again. Because I know now that new beginnings are possible, even after unimaginable loss.

I’m excited for what’s to come and I carry Evelyn with me in every step forward I make.