National Network for Equitable Library Service

Tina is a proud Yupungthai and Gangalilda woman; descended from ancestors who have walked this earth for 65,000 years. They are Tina's strength, and they have given her the resilience to fight through her darkest moments. Tina has had many setbacks in her life. Growing up poor, she didn't understand why this world was so hard to live in. She grew up in a home with parents who were dealing with their own pain, so she had no choice but to grow up at a very young age. Early on in life, she knew that she had to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma. This book is about Tina's journey; about never losing sight of the bigger picture. It is about a self-taught passage to 'codeswitch' between the way the world sees her as an Aboriginal woman, and the way she wants to be seen and what her place is in this world. This account is also about her fight through the adversity of poverty, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, and racism, to a successful career in the Australian Defence Force. As Tina continues to grow and gather new life tools to be content and live a happy life, she wants to share this message; she hopes this book can help others on their journey of self-discovery and happiness. With her head held high, Tina now proudly walks this earth, just as her ancestors once walked before her ... this is not only for herself but for her beautiful kids.