"For as long as I can remember I’ve been spell bound by language: books, reading,
and writing. I loved making my own stories and poems as a child which eventually
broadened to writings ofnon-fiction. My love ofwords led me into further education,
studying English Language, Media, History and Law at A Level. Once they were
over, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do, and a week before I was set to move,
chose to study English Language and Law in Bristol. With any luck I hoped to
discover what I wanted to do with my life, how to go about it, or failing that, I’d have
an academic qualification. 2 years after graduating, I’m still awaiting that epiphany,
that moment where I knew what I wanted to do and I haven’t landed a job that even
uses my degree much at all. This often has people I meet asking what I actually got
from the experience and would I have been better offjust getting a job. The answer to
that is definitely “No”. In my final year, I opted for a feminism based module which
covered what feminism is, the different types, war crimes against women, women in
the legal system and so on. The last one was particularly key, no longer did I even
have a desire to work in a place where I would be so unwanted before I even started,
based on my gender. Although at face value, I obviously previously wanted and
believed we all deserve equal rights, this is the first time I’d been properly exposed to
the reality and it outraged, angered and interested me in equal amounts. As I learnt
more, I noticed how much sexism me, my friends, most women, globally,
unfortunately encounter on near enough, a daily basis (cat calling, belonging in the
kitchen jokes, unwarranted touching on nights out, the list, ofcourse, could go on)
and had this compelling desire to do something, anything to raise awareness or help
bring about change. As with the dream job epiphany thing, I’m still unsure what my
role in bringing about change is, but for now I choose to incorporate it with my other
passion, writing and words."