– in their own words
To me, achievement means a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of success.
It is being able to battle against all the odds and come out victorious. Through
this encounter I can use it as a learning curve experience, which will aid me
through other trials and tribulations life may throw at me in the future. Finally
I see achievement as the ability to prove your critics wrong, by surpassing their
expectations. Rico Coombs – nominee Education Award
What struggles or challenges have you faced on your path to achievement?
Struggle for me equals progress, and every day presents new challenges. From
the time I had no money to get to work and no means of getting back. To the
days I was told to forget about my dreams and just get a regular job. The path to
achievement has been very challenging but has given me experience and skills
that can only be earned, not bought. Byron Douglas-Letts – nominee,
Business & Enterprise Award
As a very keen sportsperson (athlete) as well as an enthusiastic academic, one
of the challenges that I have faced on my journey to achievement would have
to be attempting to balance two activities whilst still maintaining a high level
of commitment towards both. As both training/competing and A-level studies
(English literature, sociology and business studies) each require almost 110%
effort, this has certainly been a great challenge for me due to my determination to be successful at both for as long as possible. Nathan Fox – nominee,
Sports Award
The struggle and challenges I faced on my way to achievement were my peers
and my own personal fear, nothing else. I grew up on an estate were everyone
had nothing, my mother was working two jobs to maintain and even that was
hardly doing anything. So my peers and I would influences ourselves to go and
do things just to survive (that’s how we saw it), I was so into that life that I was
afraid of becoming successful because I knew if I did I would end up losing
all my peers and the fun we were having at the time. From 2007 some friends
passed away and most ended up in jail. To me it was time to turn my life around
because I had real family and friends who loved me and I didn’t want to leave
that, I started focusing on my everyday positive work to keep me going and left
the negative behind. Dennis Gyamfi – nominee, Community Award
During the last year, my Mother has been very ill and with this I have been
looking after my little brother. This included taking him into school and
completely taking over parental roles, as well as going to college myself. For
some people this is a normal routine and so I felt it was a big step up. Kyl Asgill
– nominee, Community Award
I am a mother of two young children aged 3 and 4; I feel I have many demands as
a parent as well as dealing with a 9-5 job. I always wanted to be a police officer
but that all changed once I had children. I was unsure of what I wanted to do
with my life, all I knew was I was going to make something of myself and make
my children and myself proud. Natasha Mills – nominee, Community Award
How have you overcome your struggles or challenges?
Perseverance. I just kept my head down and got on with my work. Through my
music I was able to grab people’s attention. It was then easier for me to put
across my message. Bol Joseph – nominee, Choices Award
Your support system can make or break you. Who do you have as your foundation?
I’ve been blessed to have an invaluable, positive circle of friends, who
understand and relate to how I feel, and offer the best of themselves through a
number of outlets. Positive self-confession is also a great help. Telling yourself,
that ‘I can make it,’ and ‘I will compl