Jakku's environment was unforgiving. Wherever one went, grit and sand danced around aimlessly, sometimes even lashing at one's face if it felt like it. Since Jakku was an arid and sandy landscape, it was quite simply, and obviously, impossible to grow crops. There were some imported foods, but they usually became scarce within a few days of arrival.
Despite all these challenges, Rey found a way to survive. She continued on despite the heartbreak and unspeakable pain of her own family abandoning her at age five. Dependent on no-one, she took matters into her tiny hands and forged a lifestyle for herself, growing up much too quickly as she navigated harsh terrain and haggled greedy shopkeepers on food prices. There were days, yes, when her grief became unbearable and she would sit in her makeshift home and cry until there were no tears left to expel. Things were made worse by the fact that she had no friends to speak of, which compounded her loneliness.
She carried on, to her credit. There was no hope of ever seeing her parents and siblings together. As much as that hurt, she had to press on and survive on Jakku as best she could. The desert did not intimidate her. She had grown into a resourceful, ingenious and strong (both mentally and physically) young woman.
Simply put, Rey was a self-made woman. She was fiercely ndependent and determined to succeed in a hostile environment. Even though she was happy to remain on Jakku, she would sometimes turn her thoughts to other planets and worlds. She tried to imagine lush, green landscapes of a far-off planet, with rushing rivers and birds happily chirping in the trees. If she concentrated, she would imagine villages with the sounds of a bustling and vibrant society. Laughter. Crying. Expressions of surprise and alarm.
Tragically and inevitably, her thoughts turned back to reality. Sighing, she'd begin to busy herself with what needed doing at that moment.
Her taste of other worlds would come sooner than she expected.