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Hello friends and kind strangers, my name is Wolfy Bird and I’m in the process of drastically changing my life for the better after a long run of debilitating physical and mental health problems, but I can’t do it alone and now, more than ever, I need help from the community.
Back in 2013 I became disabled by severe back problems and fibromyalgia after which I was no longer able to work for a living. The experience also had devastating effects on my mental health and I’ve been extremely isolated with crippling social anxiety for the past 9 years. I’ve been living on federal disability, which is not enough to get by these days, and I ended up having to move back in with my family where I hadn’t lived in 20 years.
It’s been a very rough situation. My childhood in this house was traumatic, and the family I am stuck with here now are at best unsupportive, and at worst violent and terrifying. Without savings or ability to save money I’ve been trapped here, trying to figure out how to escape.
Recently I’ve been able to drastically improve my physical health to a level of ability I thought I would never have again, thanks to a lot of physical therapy, discovering exercises that I could to without exacerbating my pain issues, and a *lot* of hard work. As I’ve become mostly able-bodied most of the time, I’ve been considering my ability to work for a living again and get out of the rut of living on disability, trying to think of something I can physically do long-term, and how to deal with my intense social anxiety in the workplace… and that’s when I discovered watchmaking school.
I’ve always worked with my hands in one way or another; from building bicycles, to line assembly, to welding, to baking… those are all things I’ve done professionally. I also enjoy making art and crafts/tinkering on my own; I love working with my hands and the finer the detail the better… watchmaking feels like the ideal profession for me. The only reason I didn’t get into it sooner is because I honestly didn’t think it was a profession in demand at all, and I didn’t know watchmaking schools were even available. As soon as I found out, the wheels in my head started turning.
I’ve needed a bridge between life on disability and working for a living again, and I really believe going to watchmaking school is that bridge. I’m all registered for classes, my FAFSA is in, I bought a little pickup truck to drive up there with all my saved money, and as of today I have been approved for an apartment just north of the school! I’ve worked crazy hard to get to this point, I honestly didn’t believe I would make it this far. Now I only have one obstacle… the cost.
I need the deposit on my apartment, gas to get there, and a small trailer to tow. Those are the final steps! I know things have been massively challenging for almost everyone lately with everything going on in the world, and asking for help is really uncomfortable, but this is a chance I never thought I would have again and I need the help more than ever. It all adds up so every dollar is precious to me, and if y’all can share the link here I would also be grateful!
Thank you so very much, friends. I’ll be showing my transition into this wonderful new life on Instagram, like the kids do, lol… so you can even see what you’ve helped create. I don’t have words to express my gratitude, truly, thank you.
Wolfy Bird

