Growing up I came from an area that was rough around the edges to say the least. Where people like me were expected to ever amount to anything. At age 13 I struggled at school since I had the learning difficulties, dyslexia and the processing disorder dyspraxia. Meaning it was difficult for me to process information that was given. I often was bullied for my conditions to the point I would go home crying to my mum asking when would things be different.

However, I did start the Duke of Edinburgh's award as a way to compensate for my learning conditions and little did I know that the lessons from the award would follow me for the rest of my life. On expeditions there was no clicks or social barriers everyone was free to be themselves, we formed a sister hood. I found that they were amazing, each having skills of their own that could not be repeated. Every mistake that I made, every time I would fall down because of my dyspraxia or even the animals that chased us. We were there to support each other. Through us helping each other. I saw my confidence grow, that I wanted to help others as I saw the impacts that it could have. I started a poetry club and the young people that came to it were those that were rejected. It created a safe space.

The girls that I met had inspired me as well as the nature to construct a poem about them. The last line in that poem is "a tame flower cannot be beautiful when it's bleak." That's what the DofE award is to me about being a team in the most unlikely situation. A very poignant lesson DofE has taught me is no matter, what happen. It is what you do next, is important. This help me through every situation and charity act I have done from age 13. I just want to say thank you for everything HRH did for the award. The award equipped me to help my wider community and set me on a path as the next generation to make world around us a more caring one.