'Creativity does matter'

20 August 2015

How did you become involved in My Culture My London (MCML) and what has your contribution been?

I received an email about an event which involved MCML, A New Direction and the Young Creative Council. I couldn't say no. I try to take every opportunity I can to work on projects and this project has great prospects. The night was good, with creativity flowing around and production of some great ideas. Our team came second in the standings, which meant a day at IRIS Worldwide to develop the idea further.

Do you think this project matters?
This project really does matter. It is something that I feel really passionate about. I fell into the system where schools just don't encourage creativity in the ways they should. I was focused on Science and Maths, when my real passion was with Media. It’s about harnessing creativity before it goes, and this project is all about that.

Does creativity matter?
Creativity does matter. Plain and simple, it does. Creativity isn't just drawing some random shapes and splashing paint about. It’s about the way you address a situation. Thinking about things in a creative way makes you more successful at the things you do.


As an 11-15 year old what were your most memorable creative moments?
I know it doesn't sound creative, but after Jamie Oliver campaigned for healthier food in schools, I started selling chocolate bars. The market was already taken for some of the bars, so I sold different ones. The reason I see it as being creative is that I saw an opportunity, I saw a market and acted upon it. The creativity also came in the aspect of not getting caught!

What lead you to pursue creativity in your studies and now your future employment?
I took Media Studies at GCSE and fell in love with it. I was still pushed to carry on with Science and Maths, but the lesson I enjoyed the most was Media. At A-Levels, I progressed Media, along with Chemistry and Maths. It was then that I realised I should follow my heart, and it lied with Media.

Who or what inspired you most?
What inspires me the most? This is always a tough question for me to answer. I think the things that are uninspiring, inspire me the most. The things I don't want push me to get the things I do want. If that makes any sense at all.

What are your hopes for your future?
I hope that, in the future, I am happy. If I'm selling ice cream on a beach in the Bahamas or Creative Director of an agency, as long as I'm happy, then I'm happy. (Although CD or even owning my own agency would be nice.)

What message would you like to pass on to 11-15yr old Londoners?
I think the most important thing in life is to do what makes you happy! Don’t do something because someone has told you to do it. Do it because you want to do it. And if you're doing something that doesn't make you happy. Do something else. Creativity is with us from birth. Creativity is how we learn as a child. As we grow older, our creativity slowly starts to diminish. So like a fire, you need to keep it going. Express yourself in different ways, don’t stick to the normal. Be weird. Be crazy. Dance around the room while balancing a tower of bourbon biscuits on your head if you really want to.

(Image taken at our second Bang Bang 2 event)