Gratitude: through a lens of diversity

Content creation and artwork by Finn Souter with photograph by Maksim Romashkin at Pexels

Anjola Fashawe appreciates the opportunities she’s embraced

I’m a young Black woman born and raised in north London, where my mum has lived for the past 30 years. I come from a Nigerian heritage and, throughout my life, I’ve been exposed to the traditional values held by some of my relatives, especially my aunties, which often reflect deeply ingrained misogyny.

In West African culture, misogyny and sexist attitudes are prevalent. Daughters are conditioned from a young age to take on domestic roles, and mothers are expected to be ‘good housewives’, caring for their husbands’ and children’s every need. Essentially, the belief is that a wife belongs to her husband, a notion that perpetuates inequality.

Growing up in London, I have been fortunate to be part of diverse friendship groups and to have opportunities that have helped me to discover my strengths and passions. My liberal education has helped shape my worldview, enabling me to recognise and challenge values that don’t align with my own.

Interacting with friends and peers from different cultures and backgrounds throughout my life has profoundly influenced my perspective. It has broadened my understanding of the world and encouraged me to think critically about issues like gender roles and societal expectations.

These experiences have not only made me more empathic and open-minded but have also empowered me to take advantage of the exciting opportunities that have come my way. They’ve given me the confidence to carve out my own identity and advocate for change through my work in journalism, art and film. I’m grateful for the many experiences I have to celebrate.

I’m grateful for the chance to travel to Mexico, connect with aspiring reporters, and experience new cultures

This year has been a significant journey for me, both academically and personally. I’m grateful to have received two A*s and a B in my A levels and am currently exploring the possibility of enrolling in a higher education course in Production Management at Pinewood Studios.

I’m especially thankful for the opportunities Exposure has offered me. You can check out my portfolio here. This summer, I’ve been loving my film course at Ghetto Film School where I’ve been able to direct my own short film at the National Film and Television School focused on subjects important to women such as female friendship and periods.

Photo of the set for my short film, ‘Pads and Pettiness’

I am grateful for the opportunity to travel to Mexico with Youth Journalism International this year. I connected with aspiring young reporters from around the globe and immersed myself in an exciting culture. I gained new perspectives on journalism and storytelling, capturing the issues and triumphs of communities outside my own in collaborative articles. These will soon be published, highlighting Mexican history beyond its colonial legacy, including stories from Coyoacán’s local communities.

Through my work, I can raise awareness about important issues, and in doing so, I hope to support and inspire others.

I’ve been exploring what other Exposure contributors have to say about gratitude. I was moved by the depth of reflection and authenticity in each person’s experience.

Here are some standout moments:

• Alessia is grateful for positive thinking, affirmations and manifestation. “This practice has motivated, challenged and pushed me to reach my full potential in life and better mental wellbeing.”

• Valentina appreciates how dancing and drama improves her mood. “When I’m in action, my mood lifts and I feel better.”

• Jacob values his support network and the comfort it brings. “I feel more comfortable because I understand now that I’m not alone. Everyone’s going through something. That’s life.”

• Kirsty is thankful for the support from sixth form in developing her friendships. “During the spring term I repeated this mantra to myself: I’m not owed friendship. It’s something I need to engage with and work on.”

• Vlad is grateful for learning English and finding community through gaming. “Adjusting to life in a new country, gaming was a surprising ally for me.”

• Jason is grateful for his creativity. “Through my writing and designs for fashion and architecture, I’ve discovered ways to delve into my emotions and embrace my authentic self.”

• Raneen is grateful for the profound impact of sport on her mental health. “On my gymnastics journey, someone special taught me that life is just like a gymnastics routine: you land incorrectly, you carry on.”

• Daniel is grateful for musicians who create music that resonates with him. “Music brings positivity to my life, social media helps me find new sounds I love, widening my musical world.”

• Sadie is grateful for feeling grounded by the natural world. “I find it inspiring when I walk, observing the different shapes of nature; the circular hedges next to triangular trees.”