Life Challenges Guiding Us The Right Way

In 2014, as my little one Taylor says, "Back in the Day", I was invited in to do an appraisal on a wonderful family home. This family knew exactly where they were going and what they were trying to achieve with preparing the property for sale and developing their new residence. It was an appraisal for a future sale in 18 months to two years. Little did we know, that the relationship our families were to form, would not be focused on real estate, but about embracing the situations that were put in front of us.

2016 turned out to be a horrific year health wise for both our families. My ill health putting me in a position of uncertainty for my future, whereby I no longer could work in real estate let alone being able to keep any contacts I had made, and the horrific challenge of IBD, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, that this amazing family had to face with their beautiful daughter, Melissa.

I remember laying in the Acute Medical Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and receiving a message through social media from Carol, Melissa's Mum, re-establishing contact and enquiring how I was, not knowing my circumstances. Little did I know either what her family, more so, what Melissa was enduring. I filled Carol in on what had happened to me and at this point I believe our professional relationship turned into a genuine friendship and understanding of life perspective.

Melissa O'Connell in March 2016 was rushed to hospital by her mother and faced the biggest challenge of her life, to stay alive. IBD had crushed her world, depleting her body from vital nutrients, stripping her totally of any physical capabilities. With great strength, will power, determination and an outstanding amount of discipline, Melissa has fought her way back, teaching herself to walk again, setting goals and smashing them with her fitness, health, going on holidays, completing fun runs and raising awareness of IBD, learning karate and now beginning her own tutoring business.

5 months after learning to walk again, Melissa successfully completed the Peoples Choice Undies Run to Kick Bowel Cancer in the Butt with Rory Sloane and Kane Cornes. She was also the second highest individual fund raiser for the event.

While Melissa has been fighting her way back to good health, both my daughters Kashalia and Taylor have struggled grasping some educational concepts, resulting them losing confidence in their school work. Speaking openly about this to Carol, she suggested with Melissa now moving into university studies as a teacher, maybe she could tutor them. I agreed that it would actually be good for all three of them and so the tutoring began.

Like I said this is not about real estate, this is about how life challenges put before us guide us in the right direction. I cannot speak highly enough of this outstanding, beautiful young lady. Melissa O'Connell has brought a world of light into my girls lives. Within 4 Weeks what both Kashalia and Taylor have learnt, but more so retained is an incredible amount of information that they were not understanding at school. Their confidence has grown and most importantly they are having so much fun and cannot wait to share and continually practice the principals that Melissa has taught them.

Kashalia and Taylor getting right into their studies 

Melissa got the girls to combine all their newly found skills to make me a clock birthday cake. Too cool.

Melissa is combining the girls love of craft to love their maths.

Kashalia humbly happy with her achievement and Turbo Taylor celebrating as only she can (yes, I know, I may have my hands full with little one).

If you are looking for a ray of light here in Adelaide to help guide your child in the right direction, then I cannot recommend anyone more highly than Melissa. I have mentored and trained people of all ages and genres, I have undertaken education and training from many teachers and coaches myself, and you either have a connection or you don't. Melissa connects, because she genuinely cares, conducts herself with passion and professionalism. With all the appropriate qualifications to undertake such a position, there is no excuse not to at least have a conversation with her if you think your child requires help with their studies.  

Taylor, Kashalia and Melissa with just a little of their morning work.

The girls and I are writing this to not only recommend you as a tutor, but wishing you the very best of luck with your tutoring business and also for your dreams and goals ahead. To accomplish what you have had to and wanted to in the last 12 months is astonishing. The girls and I are forever grateful to you and your family and are super glad you are in our lives.

Bright Achievers Tutoring
Mobile: 0459 797 880
Email: melissa_oconnell@hotmail.com
Website: melstutoring.wixsite.com/brightachievers
Facebook: facebook.com/brightachieverstutoring
Instagram: bright_achievers

About Bright Achievers
Welcome to Bright Achievers Tutoring. Bright Achievers is a tutoring business which was established in 2017. Melissa O’Connell is the founder of Bright Achievers Tutoring and aims to help children from Kindergarten - Year 7 in subject areas which they are having difficulty with. Melissa is currently studying a Bachelor of Education at University. Melissa’s purpose is to help each student to learn and help themselves in their learning by assisting and guiding them through their individual learning process. Each session elevates their confidence to becoming an independent learner and mastering areas identified as requiring extra help. Each tutoring session is divided into sections with concept discussions/instructions, tasks and a game to reinforce the concept and keep the fun alive and engage each student.