A TEENAGER from Cam who turned her life around has been rewarded with new-found independence and an accolade from artist PJ Crook.

Jodie Parker-Hall, who has cerebral palsy and uses a powerchair, has been given the PJ Crook Capturing Art Award and National Star’s Personal Development Award.

Now she hopes to inspire young students at the college to start believing in their abilities like she did herself.

“When I started at National Star I hardly ever said anything. I would get the person who I was with to talk for me. Now I am self-confident and really want to be independent and have a place of my own. I believe in myself now,” Jodie said.

Since joining the college in Ullenwood the 19-year-old has begun to go shopping and travel on the bus independently. She also has a part-time job at Solent Stevedores in Dursley and volunteers at the Allsorts charity which supports Gloucestershire families who have children with disabilities and additional needs.

Artist PJ Crook presented Jodie with her art award and praised her work ethic.

“Jodie truly represents what it means to work hard, listen carefully, learn by their mistakes, celebrate achievements and be a team player,” PJ said.

“Even when she’s tired, stressed and very busy, Jodie has come to college, knuckled down and worked until she’s got the job done and if that’s not the right attitude to get you through work and life in general then I don’t know what is.”

Jodie expresses her love for art at National Star. She also has hydrotherapy and physiotherapy there which she says has made a huge difference to her quality of life and helps her manage her fatigue.

“It has helped the pain I have in my hips. In the pool I can move independently on my back and be in control on my body. It’s amazing,” she said.

“It’s important for the kids to have a role model. I hope that some see me and think ‘I want to get a job and be like Jodie’.

“In the past I didn’t work hard enough to make people understand me. I was being lazy. Now my mum says I am a different Jodie.”