Amber Petty

Name: Amber Petty
Occupation: Media personality

Amber is a radio personality in South Australia, a newspaper columnist, and soon to be face and co-creator of a new spiritual, healing website (www.spirittv.com.au), and a single girl, who loves her family and friends enormously. She hopes to be, and believes in many ways she already is, a person that can use her conscience, love of people, and media position to raise topics that need to be discussed in order to help people who may feel a bit alone or misunderstood.

She says: "I'm really lucky that I can talk on radio, via the internet, and in my newspaper column about issues that relate to everyone - like body issues, depression, violence in relationships, and how low self esteem can be very dangerous for so many reasons. I can also laugh about most things and think it's important to bring lightness into people's lives by not taking everything too seriously."

Who was your role model/s when you were a teen?
It's strange but I don't remember having a role model. I wasn't the type to obsess too much over celebrities or people I didn't know. I do think though that if I'd had someone to look up to that was a positive influence, then I may have felt less lost, but I didn't.

How did your role model/s help you?
As mentioned I didn't, but I think it's a great thing as long as it's not someone like Paris Hilton or that type, which sadly for lots of girls these days, it is. Girls don't understand fully what they're looking up to, and it's all stuff that you will regret further down the line - I guarantee you!

What role or influence do you think role models have?
They can have a huge influence. The thing is when you're in your teens, you have no idea about who you are or what you're about yet. You see adulthood on the horizon but aren't quite sure what's required of you or what the pressures are. With a role model, and hopefully if it's a good one, you can take some tips from him or her as to how to tackle it. It's also good just to look up to someone and think, well she was my age once, and look how much I admire what she's done and who she is, so maybe the future isn't scary, and actually pretty cool.

What were some of the issues you faced as a teen?
My parents were divorced. I always missed my dad a lot as he lived in Sydney. I didn't have a very good relationship with my stepmother and often felt that she isolated me at times from my father, and made me feel unwanted, so that made me a pretty angry and hurt kid for awhile.

I also went to a private school but didn't live in a big house, or have lots of money so I found that embarrassing because everyone at that age just wants to fit in. I also felt that I wasn't as pretty as all my friends so I was pretty self- conscious about that. Strangely though and given all that, I was probably the ring leader of my group, and sadly also a bully because that made me feel in control and I figured if everyone was scared of me then they would be too scared to point out the things I didn't have. I had no idea at the time of the affect that bullying could have on others. I was just angry and a bit sad and figured everyone else was in a much happier place than me so my crap wouldn't upset them too much. I was wrong!

How did you overcome these issues?
Funnily enough, I'm only really starting to understand they were issues, and dealing with some of them now. At school I just made sure I was tough enough so that no one would see my pain or insecurities. It was a pretty exhausting little façade to maintain.

What do you remember most about being a teen?
Probably feeling angry and hurt about things that were going on at home, or within the family. It wasn't all bad but I was pretty sensitive so these feelings are the easiest to recall.

What qualities do you think you possess that has helped you succeed in your chosen field?
Being outgoing, and not being afraid to speak out about anything. Including admitting something embarrassing or private about myself. I think because I have gone through a lot of emotions and situations in my life, I am now able to empathise with a lot of women, mainly, and use my job to connect with them.

Outside of career success, what is it that you are most proud of?
I guess just always being independent and following my dream, even if at times I haven't been sure where the dream is heading. Just following my heart and knowing that I wasn't meant to work in a bank or an office. Not being dissuaded when my mum kept saying "Why can't you choose a career that's safe?" I'm also proud of myself that I've pulled myself out of some very low points in my life where there have been days when I just wanted to go to sleep and end up somewhere else.

Do you undertake activities to help others/community?
Yes lots. I think everyone should. For a while I was working closely and sitting on a temporary board for the NSW division of the Red Cross. I try to host as many things as I can such as Hudson Maher Foundation, Bone Growth Foundation, ASMF which helps out local charities in South Australia. You don't have to have a profile to help a charity and I think everyone in the community should be involved in helping out those less fortunate. Because one day, it could be you!

Your advice to youths about realising their own potential...
I guess my one thing I would say is if there is anything during your teens that you have an interest in, pursue it. See if it is something that stays of interest and perhaps something you can see you're good at or comes easily to you. Don't look around for others approval of whether you're good at it because sometimes you'll seek the wrong approval and get the wrong feedback. Keep chipping away at it no matter what anyone says. Don't be put off because someone else doesn't understand why you're interested in whatever it is, and don't be put off by someone else, even your parents 'telling' you you must do what they want (career wise). You deserve to follow your dreams, and the great thing about being a teen is that you have the whole world ahead of you, so you can!

Oh one more thing that I think is really important is, not everyone is good at school. Not everyone is good at maths, science, and gets great grades. This is NOT the end of the world, and you need to know that there is something else out there for you. I was NOT good or focused at school, and I've done pretty well I think. Don't beat yourself up if you're struggling….

When it comes to how you live your life, what are the most important factors/values?
Learn from every mistake I make. No mistake or bad experience is a waste as further down the line in life you'll realise - if you're paying attention, - how the bad experience becomes essential to your life but in a positive way. Nothing bad that you do means you're a bad person as long as you eventually rectify it. We are formed by the experiences we have as kids and the people that took care of us. Sometimes that damages us in ways, but all of it is fixable as long as you acknowledge when you've done something wrong, or willing to work on changes for the good.

Why do you think you make a good role model?
Because I'm real. I'm not someone that has ever been even close to perfect. I'm someone that has been bad at times, but who has always had a good heart and who plans on becoming a stonger person in my soul every day, and who strives to becoming a person that I am proud of because I care about people around me. If you're a good person to yourself, and others, and you follow your passions, then I do believe your life can become what you want it to be.