Zero to Stand-Up: From Fired to the Front Mic

Sometimes, the worst moments in life push us towards the most unexpected paths.

After being let go from my job shortly after raising a complaint about discrimination, bullying, and harassment, I found myself completely lost. I was searching for something — anything — that might help me process what had happened. So, on a bit of a whim (and a lot of emotion), I signed up for a free 8-week stand-up comedy course.

What I didn’t realise at the time? It wasn’t just a course — it was a fundraiser, and it ends with a live show at the Backyard Comedy Club on June 22, 2025.

In true fashion, I only clocked this detail after signing up. But I’m embracing it. I’ve chosen to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation, because truthfully, I wasn’t in the best place when I started. And while I’m still figuring it out, I’m taking on this challenge in the hope that it might inspire others too — especially those going through something heavy — to take a step toward something new, even when you don’t feel fully okay.

This series is my journey from rock bottom to open mic — learning how to turn pain into punchlines, awkwardness into art, and emotion into something meaningful (and hopefully funny). From last-minute chaos to small wins, it’s about using humour to heal, and finding purpose in the mess.