Rosie Swanton

Name: Rosie Swanton
Age: 20
Occupation: Student/retail worker

She's a young girl with dreams to save the world - in her words, a wannabe superhero! AYouth Ambassador for reachout.com.au, Rosie is passionate about making people happy, and giving priority to physical and mental wellbeing. She believes that by committing yourself to achieve true greatness, you will achieve it (and probably gain a whole lot of amazing life experiences and happiness along the way!)

Who was your role model/s when you were a teen?
I had a few - my mama (of course!) Priscilla Presley (in her younger years) for her grace and dignity, A lawyer named Kate who inspired me to speak my mind, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for always knowing when to kick butt, and when to sit down and talk about it.

How did your role model/s help you?
They inspired me to be independent and do what I want to do. It can be really easy to get sucked into the world of 'should's and could's and follow a path that isn't necessarily made for you… these women all, in one way or another, helped me gain the confidence and belief that being the real you is far more important than being a person you think you should be.

What role or influence do you think role models have?
I think they have a very important role in life - they can inspire you to take a chance, they can reinforce a good thing when you are having doubts, and they can show you the light when you're feeling a bit lost in the dark.

What were some of the issues you faced as a teen?
I had a really hard time learning to be myself - as a teen, I constantly wanted to show people that I was worth knowing, and by doing that I presented this huge front that wasn't really me.

How did you overcome these issues?
I thought about what I valued most in other people and I realised that it was honesty and sincerity, and I realised that these were two values I wasn't implementing in my own life. It took a while, and I'm still battling with it today, but I try really hard to be ME, to show people who I really am and be true to my character, odd bits and all!

What do you remember most about being a teen?
The LAUGHTER! I spent 90% of my teen years in hysterical laughter - I find it sad that I've let mundane life take over my ability to laugh at everything and anything.

What qualities do you think you possess that has helped you succeed in your chosen field?
I think I have a belief in myself and what I do that is hard to come by. By choosing a path that I am truly passionate about, I am able to create and drive and momentum that can't be fabricated.

Outside of career success, what is it that you are most proud of?
My relationships - past and present - and my ability to stand strong through tough times. As a teen I had a lot of very intense situations come up in my life, and through it all, I managed to crack a smile and hold it together, when I very easily could have let it take control of me.

Do you undertake activities to help others/community?
Yes, I am a volunteer for reachout.com.au, a website for young people going through tough times. I work hard to help make the service better in the hope that I will make some contribution to lowering mental illnesses in young people, and increase the general wellbeing and happiness of my peers.

Your advice to youths about realising their own potential...
Your potential lies in what you believe in… there's no point in attempting to fulfil a dream you aren't passionate about. So think long and hard about what you REALLY want out of life (if you were the queen of the world, what job/experiences would you delegate to yourself?), and don't let doubts or fears hold you back.

When it comes to how you live your life, what are the most important factors/values?
My friends and family and my mobile phone so that I can keep in touch with them all! Also my bath, because it signifies quiet and peaceful time alone … it's really important that I let go and have a good belly laugh to help de-stress myself once and a while.

Why do you think you make a good role model?
Because I'm real and sincere. And because I believe in being who YOU are, not who I am, or who others think you should be. Being able to show people that they are incredible in who they are naturally is very important to me, getting people to believe in themselves creates an inspiration that can't be found anywhere else.