ANU student in the running for Youth Courage Award

At the age of 15, ANU student Rachael Stevens found herself hospitalised and at risk of losing her life because of an eating disorder.

After four hospitalisations for depression and anorexia throughout her life, Rachael is now fully recovered, and using her story of overcoming these illnesses to show young people they too can overcome anything in their lives.

Now 23 and in her first year of a Bachelor of Arts degree, Rachael's efforts to share her story to help others have earned her a nomination for a Youth Courage Award as part of National Youth Week.

“I was so surprised to get the nomination – I feel like I haven’t done very much because I’m young,” she said.

It was only in 2014, after moving to Canberra, that Rachael started speaking and running workshops at high schools and youth groups.

In December last year Rachael published her first book, The Skeleton Diaries. She launched the book along with an exhibition of her paintings, which together told the story of her illness and recovery. The book is a raw account of her journey, based on her diary entries at the time.

The candid way in which she talks about her experience, she said, is why her story resonates so strongly with others.

“A lot of people say my book is really inspiring because I’m so honest,” she said.

 "I feel that young people need positive role models who have overcome adversity and are honest about their failings.”

After going through so much and making a full recovery, Rachael said she felt she just had to do something to help others.

“I don’t think recovery stories are shared enough. For someone to tell you that you can get better is great, but someone who’s walked through it makes it more real.”

She plans to write more books in the future, which is why she is studying English in her Bachelor of Arts degree.

“I think being at ANU is already equipping me to communicate better, and being in a the university environment with so many young people just inspires me to keep doing this and keep going.”

National Youth Week celebrates the achievements of young people across Australia and runs from 10-19 April.

The National Youth Awards will be announced on 15 April at an awards ceremony in Brisbane.