Avani Dias is the host of triple j’s Hack: Australia’s national current affairs show for young people, which broadcasts to millions of listeners. Avani has interviewed Australia’s leaders, some of the world’s biggest thinkers, and reported on and investigated loads of exclusive stories, often with a focus on young Australians. Previously a multiplatform reporter for ABC News in Sydney and Darwin, Avani’s been a Walkley Awards finalist four times, and been recognised with other journalistic accolades. In short: a legend to be reckoned with!
DEAR 15-YEAR-OLD AVANI,
I know you’re feeling down at the moment. You were playing netball the other day and the guy you’re into threw the ball to you. You’re so uncoordinated, and as expected, you dropped the ball. It feels like things are over for you and him, and let’s be honest: it’s not gonna happen. So, suck it up and move on because things will get wayyyyyy better for you and you’re much better than this loser dude!
You’ve got big dreams of becoming a presenter on triple j. You’ll have a few setbacks, and it’ll take a while for the ‘people in charge’ to see your true value – but as hard as it will be, don’t let any of them get to you. People you know will go off them, because everyone will end up realising how they probably shouldn’t have been in their positions anyway (and let’s be honest, they’re a bit racist, too). And some of the teachers and bosses who don’t think you’re that great at the start, will end up acknowledging you’re talented. So, you’ve just gotta keep working hard and continue being your chill self. I don’t want to spoil anything [#spoileralert], but you WILL get the dream job – so get excited for that!
But hey, work and study aren’t everything and you know that. So don’t let that knowledge go – you’ll meet some of your best friends at uni and at work. And your core crew at school? They’ll stick with you forever. Some of your other mates, the ones who think they’re uber hot and better than you? Turns out they’ll mostly become pretty lame in life. And I know the guys at school suck but trust me: you’ll meet way better ones after you finish.
I know your parents and brother feel kinda annoying right now, even though you love them. Appreciate them, because as you grow up, they’ll grow too, and you’ll learn to figure out how important you are to each other. Especially your brother – he’s a little pain right now, but you’ll end up becoming pretty much best friends. And I know it feels like your parents are too strict and they’re stopping you from doing some fun stuff, but ultimately, you’ll be grateful for that, too. It’ll keep you grounded going forward. Trust me, they’ll let go eventually and it’ll be at the right time.
So, look, high school can be tough at times but keep enjoying it. You’ll look back and appreciate how multicultural it is, how many friends you make, and how it really helped you learn about the world. And although it feels small, and you want to see and experience the world – just be patient because you will. You’d be proud of future Avani, I know it.
LOVE ALWAYS, YOUR FUTURE SELF
