During my teenage years my ink would stream through reams of sheets and ferociously flow and out-pour the creative chaos simmering within my soul. My view of life and its intricacies grew with each ripple and wave. I called it my LPP [Lyrics, Prose + Poetry], and this space not only enabled me to acknowledge, absorb, and understand the world around me, but encouraged me to dream. Here I harboured hope for a better world. My curiosity for life was harvested with each rhyme, pantomime and visceral intertwining of emotions.
Gateway
Going to University thereafter presented a gateway to adventures away from my hometown where I could feed this fervent curiosity I fostered. In the personal statement I prepared when applying to study my first degree, Geography with International Politics, I wrote:
“I have chosen this course due to the significant interest I hold in the subjects the course explores. Learning about the different processes that operate the various systems in towns, cities and countries is an area of life I am passionate about and one I aspire to influence. I find it intriguing to examine the factors that affect these issues and to analyse the range of solutions many create for problems; finding out the ‘answers to tomorrows questions’. I value these questions, because I believe they ultimately affect all people worldwide.”
WOW. When reading this I am staggered by how much I have grown and evolved since writing those words, yet simultaneously remain the same hungry, altruistic person. To illustrate the impact and meaning of my experiences in Higher Education, I want to share the opening paragraph of the Acknowledgements section from my first dissertation: Children and Young People, Identity and Wellbeing:
“I arrived at UNIVERSITY with an array of ideas, ambitions and experiences fuelling a thirst to explore the world and its features further. Often I had found few people with similar incentives and ideas until I encountered many of the writers I have come to know through repeated reading and assessments. However, these incentives and ideas only came to life in the spirits of those who I encountered in the field when conducting research for both projects I have undertaken for my degree. It is for feelings, experiences and outcomes like these that I dedicate my time and energy towards commitments such as my education.”
Artist
As common as these words may sound, it is true: I began to find and form more of myself through academia. I will always feel that being an Academic is, in my own way, one of my vocations.
I regard each academic piece of work as art, as a masterpiece. Why? Because every time I produce something I am persistently expressing how I feel about one or more issues, topics, theories, ideologies, processes, outcomes or concepts WITH PASSION. At my core, whenever I yield any rhythm or flow with anything I put my touch to, I AM AN ARTIST.
Having invested so much enthusiasm + compassion that leapt beyond a desire for a good grade, my works are thus not a mere collection of essays, articles and reports. I regard each academic piece of work as art, as a masterpiece. Why? Because every time I produce something I am persistently expressing how I feel about one or more issues, topics, theories, ideologies, processes, outcomes or concepts WITH PASSION. At my core, whenever I yield any rhythm or flow with anything I put my touch to, I AM AN ARTIST. My words and the sentiments they imbue ebb from the heart, and I revel in the art of reflection. Academia thus became a new medium of expression for me in addition to my LPP, and I am delighted to now have the chance to share what I have continued to (re)create over the years.
Republished March 2022
Intellectual Hit List
The following is my Intellectual Hit List. Click on any piece of work that piques your interest (this will take you to my ResearchGate profile where you can download it), and have a read! Any ideas, thoughts, questions, feel free to contact me 🙂
(BA Hons) Geography with International Politics; Manchester Metropolitan University
- The Sustainability of Manchester’s Development
- Peace through International Law
- Formations of Identity and Place
- Project Proposal: Gentrification and Ethnic Minorities in Berlin
- Sustainability in the Lake District National Park
- Representations of Identity and Place
- Gentrification and Ethnic Minorities in Berlin
- Key Theoretical Debates in International Relations
- Project Proposal: Children and Young People, Identity and Wellbeing
- Expressions and Contestations of National Identity
- Importance of Sustainable Production and Consumption in Achieving Sustainable Development: GSK and Aspirin
- Children and Young People, Identity and Wellbeing [Dissertation]
- Poverty in South Africa
- Subcultural Spatial Meanings and Practices
- Environmental Performance of Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- Globalisation, Governance and Greed
(MSc) Wellbeing in Public Policy and International Development; University of Bath
- cART in South Africa
- Visions and Practices of Wellbeing
- Autonomy and Alternatives
- Advanced Policy Analysis [RCTs, Evidence-based Policy and Policy Network Theory]
- US Healthcare Reform
- The Dynamics of the Child Soldier Experience
- Wellbeing College Evaluation*
- Human Development Policy Analysis – Skateistan
- Education in Emergencies in the DRC
- Youth Provision in the oPt
- Empowerment in Education in Emergencies (EiE) [Dissertation]
(BSc) Paramedic Science; University of Greenwich
- Academic Skills and Reflections on Practice*
- Combat Application Tourniquets
- Recovery Rate*
- Leadership in Paramedic Practice
- Administration of POMs
- Case Study: Psychosocial aspects of Paramedic Practice
- Student Paramedic experiences of clinical practice
- Transition to Autonomous Practice: care management
- Challenges prehospital care practitioners experience with emotional aspects of paediatric care
Available academic works
I am yet to release many of my academic pieces of work, but upon their release I will publish an accompanying blog article. There are some I may never release because I either deem them unworthy of sharing or I am not in a position to do so (these are marked with an *). So far, I have released the following:
LPP [Lyrics, Prose + Poetry]
Sadly I’ve lost a trove of potent pieces produced at the peak of a plethora of emotions over the years. However, I continue to harvest stacks of notepads and digital documents that I intend to supplement in years to come.
Although I will probably never capture the raw feeling of those moments from the past, my soul will forever be a reservoir of emotions + abilities that will enable me to (re)create. This gives me some consolation + gratitude for my propensity to express.
I will thus be sharing select artefacts + fresh carvings when I see fit. This is what I have shared via this blog so far:
drBACKPACK 
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