Past, present, future

Meera Atkinson

Einstein’s theories of relativity rocked the concept of time as absolute. But for most of us past, present and future are destinations linked by a bridge of passing moments. The Transit Lounge asked people to describe their lives as they look back and imagine their future.

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Sarah Chesson, 28, Executive Assistant

5 years ago

“Five years ago I was 23. I had just finished my first year teaching and I was on summer break in South East LA where I was a special education teacher. I had the same boyfriend that’s been around since I was about 20. I was living with room mates and he was living with room mates on the other side of the city.”

Now

“I moved to Australia from Los Angeles and I’ve been here about a year. The boyfriend is still around. I came with him to Australia. He had an opportunity to come to Sydney. Initially I said, ‘Absolutely not. I can’t imagine leaving!’ The more I thought about I thought I needed to get outside my comfort zone. I quit a job I loved to come here and do something completely new. It just developed. Everything happens for a reason — I totally believe that. It’s been a really good experience.”

5 years' time

“I think I need to go back to working with youth. Just before I came here I worked with teen mums and kids in an early literacy program and I would love to go back and do something like that, or maybe school counselling. In five years I’ll be 33. I hope I’m not still a girlfriend by then! I will probably be engaged or married I would assume. I think I’ll be working with high risk youth somewhere.”

Matt Bevan, 36, Accountant

5 years ago

“I had a lovely girlfriend who I was living with in Sydney and she was offered a promotion through work to live up in Brisbane. I was working at the time so it meant me giving up my job and trying to find something in Brisbane. We were developing a relationship — she’s Australian.

“I’d moved to Australia [from England] so I was getting used to Australia and was trying to decide if I wanted to stay. There was a lot of turbulence but it was an interesting and exciting time and everything was still new to me.”

Now

I’ve just relocated from Brisbane back to Sydney. My wife was offered another promotion and in between we got married and I became a citizen in Australia. In that time I’d also started working for charity organisations so I’ve developed a career in working with those types of organisations. So we’ve come back and are now settling back into Sydney.

5 years' time

In terms of locations I’ve lived in England, America, Africa and Australia so we’re still prepared to move but, in terms of the fundamentals, making a life in Australia is important at the moment. I wouldn’t like to predict where I’ll be in five years but I’m hoping there’ll be enough challenges that we’ll be in a different place than we are at the moment.

Anna Catliff, 19, Personal Assistant

5 years ago

“I was in high school. I was probably not the best student, a bit of a rebel. I didn’t have much focus. I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do.”

Now

“I’ve got myself together now. I’ve settled down a lot. I’ve been at TAFE for three years. I just finished studying business and now I’m doing HR. I have a boyfriend. We’ve been together four years.”

5 years' time

“I’d like to be in HR career-wise. I’d like to be married maybe with children or travelling. I see myself still in Sydney but maybe not so much in the city.”

Monique Corkin, 22, Actor

5 years ago

“I was at High School — Newtown Performing Arts — trying to pursue my dream of becoming an actress. I’m still trying to pursue it. Not much has changed. I’m still very driven and love that kind of lifestyle.”

Now

“I’m out in the real world, I’m not at school anymore and don’t have that safety net and carefree life of hanging out with friends and not having to worry as much about having a career. I’m single.

“I’ve finished Uni and managed to find an agent I’m happy with. I’m actually in the industry. It was never going to be easy but I’m just trying to give it a go. I’ve been going for auditions for ads and meeting a lot of casting agents and getting put forward to roles.”

5 years time

“I’d love to be in a television series, an Australian drama, creating a character. I’d like to just be happy — if that means having a relationship with someone who shares the same passions I have that would be lovely.”

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