Autobiography

MY EARLY LIFE & DEVELOPMENT

My story starts on November 17th, 2006... I was born to my 22 year-old mother, who had always wanted to leave her small home town of Ipswich because she felt there was more for her life. And my 24 year old Maori father who had been in the Royal Australian Air Force since the age of 18, who gave my mum a chance to finally leave her home town. When I was born I came out with dark blue eyes (they are now hazel), of which were wide and observing, taking in all of the scenes of my new life. My mum had wanted to name me Lilly, but dad thought as a little half Maori girl Lily would not be suiting. I was actually almost named Allie after Rachel McAdams in The Notebook! My parents couldn't decide upon a name until they watched a New Zealand film a few weeks before my birth called 'Whale Rider' and the credits rolled- the main actresses' name was Keisha, and mum has said it was written in the most beautiful cursive writing. So that is how they landed upon the name 'Keisha Lilly Hudson.'

Due to having a military dad growing up we were never living in one place for very long. We moved from Ipswich to Darwin to Newcastle to Sydney whilst our family kept growing. In Darwin my brother Kobe was born 2 years after me, and in Newcastle my youngest brother Kyan was born, 2 years after Kobe.

Finally for the first time in my childhood, we 'settled down' in Sydney. From my schooling years of year 1 to year 8 I only went to two schools. I attended Kellyville Public School, and Gilroy Catholic College for High School.

When I was around the age of 10, mum went away for 6 months to do her training to join the Air Force. It was a change for us, because we were used to dad being the one away due to being deployed. I do remember that dad tried his best being thrown in the deep end. Mum ended up graduating and she's still in the Air Force to this day! I really didn't like moving around and leaving my friends, but as I have matured and grown up I don't find it too bad anymore (in saying that we haven't moved for four years). However I find it good I got the opportunities to explore new areas and make lots of new friends in different areas. I have many different memories in places all around Australia so for that I am grateful.

EDUCATION

In 2020 my family moved to Wamberal on the Central Coast and my brothers and I were enrolled in Central Coast Sports College. I was so nervous to start, especially because I knew no one on the Coast. My first day went by and I met my first friend Daisy. Daisy and I laughed every single day of year 9 and our advisor, Richard, could do nothing to stop us. As I'm reflecting on my time at Central Coast Sports College I'm genuinely astounded by how fast it's all gone by. Four years have gone by in a flash. I don't know how to feel because I'm so excited for my future after school, but I'm so heartbroken that in a few weeks it will all be over just like that. No more coming into school not knowing whether Richard is in a grumpy mood because no one has done their work, or a happy mood. No more laughing with Daisy. No more lunch at the cafe. I could go on and on all day, but in the interest of saving time and not boring the reader I will continue.

Being able to study through the Big Picture program has allowed me to find my passion. I have always been so passionate about Wildlife Conservation, raising awareness on Global Warming, educating others on the animals that inhabit our planet, and all of these topics of similarity. I remember even as a kid I knew I loved animals and the planet so much. I never thought it was possible to pursue my passion as a career, but as I get closer and closer to leaving school there are so many opportunities and I'm so excited to pursue them.

Throughout my time studying at Central Coast Sports College, I have researched topics from Einstein's theory of relativity, to philosophy, quantum physics, sustainable fashion, orca captivity, shark finning, coral bleaching, snake venom in medicine, and the effects of a neurotoxic snake bite. Reflecting on all of the topics I've done, I loved doing all of them and I am genuinely really passionate about every single one.

I have found that travelling is where I feel my best, I feel so free. At the end of 2023, my brothers, my dad and I went to visit my grandparents in Cooktown, which is a tiny town in far North Queensland. This trip had a big impact on me as I haven't seen my grandparents in so long. I also felt so at home because I was surrounded by so much nature and so little technology. This trip was where my love of snakes began. I saw so many animals in the wild I had never seen before, snakes being the main ones. I was so intrigued by them, so when I got back to school I started researching them. I got a week of work experience at the Australian reptile park, and I was the most inspired I have ever been in my life. I knew that no matter what I did after school, I was going to end up with animals or nature. I now have an internship with a snake catcher and it's my favourite day of the week. Travelling never fails to inspire me.

I am grateful for and love all of the friends I have made on the Central Coast. I have made so many memories here with different people and leaving school I'm feeling extremely nostalgic as most of these memories were made at school. I still remember being in year 7 going into year 8 and the school captains at the time were preaching to us, "Enjoy it while it lasts, because it's gonna go by faster than you can imagine." At the time I thought it couldn't go any slower, but sitting here writing this with a few weeks until I graduate and leave school forever, I am reflecting on their words and wishing I would have listened. For anyone who is yet to graduate, I would tell them to appreciate the time you have got because you will probably not see half of these people again, or for a very long time.

MY PASSION

As mentioned before, my passion lies within environmental conservation, animals, the ocean, and everything of the sort. This love for nature began at an early age, with animals. Ever since I can remember my family has had many different pets at all given times. Our house has never been a quiet house, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I learnt respect and love for animals when I was very young, and I thought that's how everybody else thought of them too. When I started learning about animal abuse, animal exploitation, and how messed up the meat industry is I knew I had to speak up about it and take action. It breaks my heart that we live in a world so cruel where people won't bat an eye to the problems these innocent creatures face. I do my best to help by raising awareness and educating people on the horrors that go on behind closed doors, and I have gone vegetarian as well because I don't support how animals are farmed and killed in horrible conditions. As long as I know I'm making a difference that is all that matters!

I have loved the ocean since I can remember. The beach is my happy place and whenever I am in the ocean all of my troubles go away. The effect that Global Warming has on the ocean is insane, the effects that happen under the surface that would otherwise be unnoticeable above the surface is horrible. I looked into coral bleaching as one of my projects, and the way an entire ecosystem can be affected by a tiny increase in the oceans' temperature astounds me. Shark finning is also a huge problem that needs to be stopped- I talk about this and coral bleaching in my portfolio and furthermore in my documentary I made.

INTERNSHIPS AND WORK EXPERIENCE

I have had many internships throughout the years at Central Coast Sports College. In year ten I spent some time with KelK Styling, as well as the Terrigal Marine Discovery Centre. Year eleven I did work experience with The Australian Reptile Park, and started my internship which I'm still doing with Central Coast Snake Catchers and Matalia Staffordshires. I am grateful for the opportunities I've had with all of these places because they've allowed me to learn what my passion is and where I want to go after school.

My time with Central Coast Snake Catchers and Matalia Staffordshires has been amazing. I've assisted in the birth of a litter of puppies with one of the dogs. It was such an incredible experience, even though the smell was super gross and I can still remember it clearly, it was such a beautiful thing to witness the birth of the puppies and watch them grow the weeks following. 

I caught my first snake with Central Coast Snake Catchers- a Green Tree snake. It was pretty embarrassing as I wasn't very good at it and couldn't get a proper grip of the snake for ages. But then I caught it and I was extremely proud of myself. I've done multiple catch and releases since then, mainly Diamond Pythons and Green Tree Snakes and I'm really proud of how far I've come.

CONCLUSION 

I am someone who loves and cares deeply for the environment, animals, the ocean, etc. I love travelling and exploring new places and its where I find the most joy. I will always speak up and protect the environment by educating others and raising awareness, because I want my children to grow up in a world as beautiful as I experienced at their age. 

Thank you for your time spent reading my autobiography. I hope you can better understand who I am as a person, my morals and values, and my story.