From shy student to future psychologist
August 25, 2026
Introverted and very shy is how Issabella described herself as being when she was first approached by her school guidance counsellor and offered a position in the Cottage by the Sea REEF Program in 2018.
The thought of being away from home and meeting new people was nerve-wracking for this 12-year-old Geelong student, however, by finding the courage to say yes, she now looks back on the experience as one of the best decisions she has made.
Issabella said she found school difficult during that time.
“I struggled to engage with my teachers and fellow peers. I was having behavioural problems and I always thought I was dumber than the rest of the kids.”
Eight years later, Issabella can laugh at this old belief of herself as she sits in her class at Deakin University completing a Bachelor of Psychology, with a Forensics Major.
In 2024, when Issabella completed the mentor program at Cottage, she was offered a scholarship to Deakin University that covered her first year of tuition fees.
What started out as a double degree in criminology and psychology, Issabella’s end goal is to now complete her honours and masters to be a forensic psychologist for children.
Before attending Cottage, Issabella thought she wanted to be a Veterinary Scientist because her caring, gentle nature loved helping animals. However, after seeing children from troubled homes and backgrounds, she decided she wanted to work with children also.
“To make them feel like they have someone in their corner and to feel supported in their development.”
Issabella said the leaders at Cottage were that support for her and the other mentor particpants.
“They were so good at getting us to talk to each other and creating relationships to make us feel comfortable straight away.
A lot of the same Cottage leaders were there with us until the end so it felt like we made really strong connections with them.
“They [Cottage program leaders] were so good at getting us to talk to each other and creating relationships to make us feel comfortable straight away.
Cottage didn't change me, it improved me."
I realised meeting people from different backgrounds and walks of life, opens your eyes and makes you realise there is a lot more to the world than just where you are from.
And where you are from, doesn’t define who you are.
Issabella said going to the snow, horse riding, and flying to Sydney were some of her favourite memories as she wouldn’t normally get to do those activities, however it was a bike ride with the group and a 2-hour conversation at the back of the pack with her leader at the time Bonnie which she said has always stuck with her.
"Cottage didn't change me, it improved me."