“I’m a born and raised Londoner, musician and sometime stand up comedian. The east London equivalent of Delboy trotter. Having decided against going to University, life chucked me a curveball and I ended up doing employment tax. I’ve chosen Life of Pi as my book because it’s a story of struggle, and life can be a struggle. But it’s also about resilience, which is a very valuable characteristic and one that Pi certainly had when on the boat with the Tiger. I was the only person of colour in my primary school and being different can be isolating – it can create a barrier, whether real or perceived. But through hard work and sheer determination, I was accepted for being the person I am. At the end of the book, Pi spins a rather different version of the journey and I think the lesson is that by focusing on the obvious answer, you might miss an even greater tale.”
Chapter 1: Being different
I was the only person of colour in my primary school and being different can be isolating – it can create a barrier, whether real or perceived. I felt different and didn’t want to stand out in the crowd. It was challenging but also uplifting – people would stop and stare, but through hard work and sheer determination, I was accepted for being the person I am. Having an environment that is inclusive, where values and cultures are actively celebrated, means I can be happy being in my own skin and not pretend to be something I’m not.
My parents immigrated here from overseas and they worked incredibly hard to provide for my sister and I. They’ve always been there for us and have taught us the values and ethics we’ve needed in life.
