For as long as I can remember, journalism is something I’ve always wanted to do. At the time I didn’t know it was called but I knew it from the moment I began reading Girl Talk magazine, a passion I never knew I had, had been ignited. 

My childhood in Hackney was the most diverse my life has ever been. My primary and secondary school was fully mixed with people from different countries and cultures. Dalston market for plantain and goat meat on a Saturday and Congolese church with endless amounts of mikate (puff puff) after service on a Sunday – I had never truly felt out of place until we moved.

My family’s relocation to Havant was completely unexpected as it was the result of escaping domestic violence. Depending on the severity, councils will often choose where to relocate victims. I was suddenly plucked out of my comfort zone and thrown into what felt like complete disarray. I remember casually saying bye to my best friend on a Friday, thinking we’d reunite at the bus stop for school on Monday morning, to not see her again for another four years.