Tom Bell works at the Reach Foundation and also within the media industry as a producer at Fox FM. He has worked on-air and off-air, always spreading the word about the positive impact the Reach Foundation had on him as a teenager.

Dear teenage Tom,

Doin’ it tough right now, mate … I tell you what, though, it only gets better and better from here, my man. Without giving away too much, if you look around at the group of people surrounding you now, just know that they’re great but they aren’t there in the future. You fall into a world that you already know exists but haven’t found it yet …

I know you always see the best in people. That’s something that makes you different, something that makes you strong and unique. Hold on to it, even when you think people are shit, always go and look for the best in them.

You’ve got some epic shit about to happen. You know how you tell Cam every weekend that you’re going to make out with Jas!?!? Well, it doesn’t happen right away but by year 10 Jas is your girlfriend! Yeah, boy, you date the biggest babe in the year level! You have a really beautiful relationship for a few years and then it comes to an end, it hurts to end, but it’s 100% for the best.

Year 10 is a big one, dude, you end up working for a youth-led organisation called Reach – I know it sounds lame as all hell but trust me, this joint changes you and helps you find that world that you always knew was out there. You’ll travel Australia with your best mates running workshops in high schools all over the country. Then you also run workshops in some of the biggest corporate firms in the country, and you do it all in your own style.

After school you decide to follow a life-long mate Marky over to the States to work at summer camp in Minnesota – look up Minnesota, it’s beautiful. Dude, this is the best thing ever. You party hard, like really hard, but you also fall in love with America and do crazy cool road trips. You’ll end up working six months in Australia and six months in the States for a few years. You’ll make friends at camp from all over the world and they will remain an integral part of your life.

At 24 you will buy an apartment with a babe named Lucy, she’s amazing! You will fall crazy in love but it won’t last. You will teach each other so much, and coming out of this relationship you’ll step into being a man – the heartbreak teaches you some huge life lessons.

As this relationship falls apart you start a new adventure in life. Remember when you told your dad you wanted to be on the radio? And he told you that you never could because you mumble all the time …? Well, you host a breakfast radio show in Western Australia and it is so epic, it’s a job that you love to pieces. The only issue is that it’s in WA. In the end, that factor alone drives you to leave and move back to Melbourne. You make the decision to be with friends and family in Melbourne as you struggle in WA with the racist, sexist and homophobic crew.

Okay, so get ready for this, though. You know the babe in the year above you right now, named Jennah? The hottie you and Andy talk about! Well, you don’t talk to her once throughout all of high school. At 19 you date for like two years, though, then split up. Now, after seven years off, you two are back together, wildly in love and living together! She makes you feel like a hero every day. You worship each other and see such beauty in one another. Your family loves her and hers loves you. You have an amazing thing going on.

Oh, brother, there is so much I can tell you that you do. So much travel, making docos, being a best man, throwing great parties, creating greatness, but the best thing you do is see the best in people. Always continue to see the best in people!

Love you, mate,

Tom