Cherie Stubbs

Meet Cherie Stubbs. After completing her studies in Law and Trainee Solicitor program, she has recently been admitted as a Solicitor. Currently she holds a position in a reputable Law firm on the Gold Coast. Not only is she successful in her career, she is a caring, approachable, fun and loyal person who inspires and encourages all those around her.

What's your current job/position?

I'm a solicitor, currently working in Migration Law.

How did you get there?

I studied a four year Bachelor of Laws degree at Queensland University of Technology, followed by two years practical training working in a law firm and completing postgraduate studies.

What is your most memorable moment at high school?

I have a lot of memorable moments from high school, most of which involve great times with friends, lots of laughter, practical jokes, talking about boys or stressing over exams!

One of my most memorable moments though was when one of my friends came to stay and we decided to go on a hike through the mountains. Not far into our hike it started pouring rain and we were drenched in minutes. We decided that we couldn't possibly get more drenched than we already were, so we took off our sodden shoes, rolled up our pants and continued our way, wading through water that was by now running down the mountains and flowing through the gullies, squelching through mud that came half way up our calves, and having a great adventure. We only just made it home alive from our wilderness adventure a few hours later, freezing cold, tired, hungry and soaked to the bone. The next day we both woke up sick and had to take a week off school to recover!

Did you have any struggles as a teenager?

On the whole I enjoyed my teenage years, but that's not to say that I didn't experience my share of struggles along the way.

I struggled with body image and always wished that I was thinner. I spent too much time worrying about what I looked like and what others thought of me and particularly in my earlier teenage years, I was uncomfortable standing up for what I believed in. I would often keep quiet and go with the flow to make sure I was "cool".

I also struggled a lot with what I wanted to do when I left school. I was interested in a lot of different areas but really had no idea of what direction I wanted to take. I put a great deal of pressure on myself at the time to choose the right career and believed that if I made the wrong decision then my whole life would be ruined! If only I had known at the time that that is definitely not the case.

And of course, there were always boy issues! Whether it was breaking up with a boyfriend and crying for days or liking a boy and trying to get his attention, boys always seemed to create some kind of drama (that usually wasn't worth worrying about in the end)!

How did you cope with difficult situations? (What strategies did you use? Which ones worked?)

My primary strategies were talking matters through with friends I knew I could trust and writing in a diary. Both were great for working through issues and trying to find solutions. And sometimes it's just good to get things off your chest!

Through a great family, great friends and self reflection I grew more confident in who I was and what I believed and less concerned about how I was perceived. I decided the idea of coolness is a myth - it's usually about people trying to be something that they're not to fit in. As far as I'm concerned, the real deal is always better than the imitation!

When it came to choosing a career, I spoke to a career advisor who encouraged me to pursue areas that I enjoyed and was good at. I also looked at careers that would give me the skills and flexibility to follow different paths if I wished to.

Most importantly, I found that having confidence, self-belief and self-awareness makes other battles easier to overcome. Of course there will always be struggles in every phase of life but having the right tools to combat them is half the battle.

What advice would you offer teenage girls?

My advice to teenage girls is firstly, take the time to work out who you are and what you believe in. Secondly, have the courage to stick to what you believe and be proud of who you are. Finally, be kind to people, have fun and enjoy this unique time of your life!