It all began when . . .

I always knew I wanted to help people. But when the grown-ups asked me what I wanted to do when I left school . . . well . . . um . . .

Things got further confused in my teens as my friends and I pondered our career options: olympic swimmer, famous writer, fighter pilot, president of Australia . . .

And I got side-tracked for a bit after school. But once I’d got growing up out of the way, I was into it.

Psychology was my calling.

However my brilliant career almost ground to a halt again in one of my early Psych 101 tutes when a well-known (and scary) lecturer boomed out: “Stand up and tell me why you want to become a psychologist. And none of that beauty queen I-just-want-to-help-people bullshit.”

Gulp.

Everyone laughed nervously. I was mortified . . . and my brain froze.

Of course, she flicked a long red talon at me indicating I was first. Think: deer . . . headlights . . .

I stumbled to my feet and blurted, “Um, I’m no beauty queen, but I really do just want to help people. Sorry.”

Very slick, Kate.

The lecturer rolled her eyes and announced: “There’s one in every group.”

And you know what?

Today, that’s what I do - help people.

Along with all the other stuff, I help people stand up for themselves when they’re publicly humiliated and made to small by people who feel the need to intimidate.

Oh, and by the way . . . I don’t apologise for myself any longer, either!