My name's Ashley. I was born in 1988 as Adam.

I was born in Sydney, Australia and I am currently 25 years old.

Both my parents were born in Italy. From as far as I can remember I've always
felt different.

I couldn't put my finger on exactly what it was but I just didn't feel entirely like a boy.

I was cross-dressing at my earliest memories in my sister's clothes.

I never told anyone how I felt, I never told anyone about anything that was relating to that part of my life.

So I went on the internet and typed in "boy feels like girl" and the results that came up was "transgender".

Television, for instance, portrayed Trans people as a joke, a punch line.

So when I found transgender online community to me, that was a relief.

I felt like I wasn't alone anymore. I felt that I could relate to people because people were going through the same thing and... you know..
It eased up on the depression.

It eased up on the anxiety because all of a sudden there were people who are like me.

I was on hormones for about a year and my mother and my father had some money and they wanted to help me with my transition.

My mother, she went with me to Boston and she was pretty much there to support me and be with me by my side.

With the FFS, which is Facial Feminisation Surgery, I was recovering for about two weeks and that was pretty much the majority of the
time I was in Boston.

I was there with bandages on my face, on my forehead, keeping the swelling down.

As soon as I woke up I asked the nurse "Can I have a mirror?" and she showed me and I was like "wow" even though I was swelling
it just didn't look like me.

So that was very interesting.

I had a new face.

I wish I knew then that there were organisations out there to educate and to help with depression,
low self-esteem and general vulnerability associated with transition.

The reason I am so happy with my life at this moment is because of the support networks I have made contact
with, friends I have made and the love and support from my family.

I wish I knew it was okay to be trans.