What do you currently do? 

I am a senior medical student studying at the University of Glasgow in the clinical years of my training. Throughout my studies, I have developed strong research interests in children’s health and community health, which coincide with my extra-curricular activities with Youth Sport Trust and sportscotland.

I was drawn to the Youth Board by the belief that sport has the power to engage and teach young people the vital skills needed for adult life. My drive to protect the enjoyment and self-confidence that physical activity provides comes from my own experience of how sport has shaped me. By joining the Youth Board, I strive to ensure more young people can reflect positively on their own sporting journeys.

Tell us about your sporting background.

Sport has always been a massive part of my identity and life growing up. I have played organised football since I was four years old, starting at St Mirren Boys Club and currently playing within the University of Glasgow FC setup. Aside from that, I tried my hand at a variety of sports growing up, which I truly value in my development as a young person through sport.

During secondary school, I joined the Sports & Health Council, which sparked my journey into youth and sport activism. It allowed me to use my voice and make a change for the benefit of the young people across the school. It was amazing to be involved with other like-minded people in my school, and I subsequently joined the Young People’s Sport Panel for sportscotland and the Young Ambassador programme. My mix of active play and advocacy has provided me with a unique and influential relationship with sport through childhood and adolescence.

What is your area of interest when it comes to accessing sport?

My passion in all walks of life is connection. Whether through music, shared ideas, or my future medical profession, I believe in the power of connecting different parts of a community. Sport is unique in its ability to transcend politics, religion, and backgrounds to offer a common language. Throughout my roles, I have aimed to keep the perspectives of diverse groups central to decision-making, ensuring that our influence reaches as many young people as possible from every walk of life.

Why did you want to become a member of the Youth Board?

After being involved in the Co-Design Group for the Youth Summit and Youth Voice Toolkit, I quickly realised how closely my values aligned with the ethos of the Youth Sport Trust. Following the Youth Board’s work over the past few years, I particularly recall their involvement in the Youth Sport Trust’s manifesto prior to the General Election and was intrigued to learn more about their work. Beyond the potential for systemic change, I was eager to collaborate with like-minded, passionate young people who could inspire and teach me through their own unique experiences.

If you could change one thing about sport or physical activity for young people, what would that be?

One thing I found invaluable to my sporting journey was the diversity in sports that I was able to try. Fortunately, I was able to try my hand at many sports, and football stuck out, but I gained invaluable skills from the other sports that I carry into my daily life and football too. I would like to increase the multi-sports club initiative for primary school-age kids to have access to as many sports as possible. It is not fair to rely on parents to shuttle their kids between many different sports, so integrating multi-sports into schools, community and youth groups would ensure more people can try more sports!

Tell us a fun or interesting fact about yourself.

I was the first baby born on Christmas Day at my hospital in 2005! People often ask if having a holiday birthday is annoying, but I love it - especially since Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas falls a couple of weeks later, so I get to celebrate twice!