Jason

Hey. I'm Jason. I'll be fifteen in October. I hate school, but I really like Playstation and rugby league.

I was in big trouble when I first met Steve, my ACT for Kids mentor. I was just a step away from being put in detention for break and enters, and the friends I hung out with were always in trouble with the police. Once I held up a service station with my mate. He's locked up now. I also got busted a few months back for throwing rocks off a bridge onto moving cars. I used to drink and sniff petrol all the time. I guess that's why I did those stupid things.

Steve reckons I used to look for trouble because I wasn't happy. He's probably right. When I think about it now, I can see I was really angry. I've been in six or seven different foster homes since my mum gave me up when I was nine. I never really had anyone who cared about me. I've always just been on my own.

Well, until Steve came along that is. He's a cool guy. He came to my bail hearing, which was a big help, and I realised I had to get away from the people who I thought were my friends. It's been about four months since that day, but I'm feeling like things are getting much better for me. Steve helped me sign up to play footy for Brothers under 16s and for the first time I've found something I'm good at. I made real friends on my team and even got voted as Vice-Captain this week. That was pretty sweet. Sometimes I see my old mates around town, but I don't hang out with them any more. I don't want to be like them.

Steve has helped me a lot. He made me realise I'm not a no-hoper. I'm much happier now. I'm a better person.

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