Help me learn to smile again

Hi there and thank you for taking a look at my campaign. I know that there are many worthy causes to choose from.

I would like to share my story with you in the hopes that you may be able to help me out. Every cent makes a huge difference.

I worked hard and studied for seven and a half years and eventually obtained my law degree. I loved the law and I really felt I had found my calling as I was good at it.

When I graduated from university I worked long hard hours for two and a half years towards my qualification, looking forward to being enrolled as an officer of the court. These hours paid less than I could live off. I have always tried to keep my expenses very low but unfortunately, there are certain expenses that one cannot decrease or avoid.

During these years it became necessary for me to take out a loan and an overdraft as I found that I did not

Last year when COVID-19 hit I suffered a huge setback. I was admitted to a psychiatric clinic for severe depression. I was in the clinic for 21 days and due to health regulations at the time, I was not allowed any visitors. I was a very difficult time for me but I do not believe that I would still be here today if I had not been admitted.

At my time of admission, I was working for a particular law firm. I had felt so lucky to get the job there and I really felt that having undergone my training there would have taken me far.

When I was discharged from the clinic I was cleared to return to work but my employers would not let me come back. They wanted me to undergo an incapacity enquiry as they claimed that I was not capable of working in the legal field. An incapacity enquiry is the first step to being fired in our local law. I could not afford to have been fired on my record so early in my working life so I resigned.

I was unemployed for a month and had to take out another loan. Before I had hopes that I would have paid off my loans easily once I had qualified. Now that is not a possibility for me.

This experience has completely destroyed my confidence in my abilities and I have had to work very hard to keep my mental health in a stable place.

I have been blessed to find another job and I am so grateful to be alive but my salary is not enough to cover my expenses with the debt repayments that I have to make. I am trying to supplement it with freelance work at night but I am working 18 hour days and I am still not breaking even. I am so afraid that the bank is going to take me to court.

All I want to do enjoy my second chance at life and begin rebuilding my career. Any help that you can give me to pay off my debt would go a long way to achieving that.

I am truly grateful for every person who has taken the time to read my story, take care of your mental health it is just as important as your physical health!