I am excited to join the Nottingham Literature Youth Advisory Board, as I have always been passionate about the importance of reading and am looking forward to contributing towards projects that make reading accessible to everyone.
I grew up in Kuwait but have lived in many countries since then, including South Korea, America and now Nottingham, England. Moving around, I got to experience many different cultures and turned to books to learn more about the world. I now study Journalism at Nottingham College, as I also have a keen interest in Politics and the media. However, in my free time I enjoy more creative outlets, such as cooking and painting.
Growing up in Kuwait there were no real public libraries or creative programmes outside of school, which is why I heavily relied on book fairs and class reading time to discover my passion for reading. I had a very active imagination as a child, and I originally began reading to escape into mythical worlds that break the boundaries of reality.
I have always seen reading as a way to experience life through alternative perspectives, and now enjoy reading thought-provoking books that make me question myself and the world around me.
A book that I deeply connected with is ‘Sex and Lies’ by journalist Leila Slimani, which confronts conservative sex laws experienced by Moroccan women, told from their own perspectives. Their accounts resonate with young women around the world and Leila Slimani gives an important voice to those who may normally be silenced.