Meet Daniella

Unlike most of her peer group, she is not planning on becoming a professional writer, she is interested in a career in banking or finance. She knows though that the confidence and perspective developed during the programme will have a fundamental influence on her life chances. “I’ve learnt to always make connections, wherever you go, to be open minded and creative, not to limit yourself to what you’re used to or what others want… I can do more than I think” but she says “I know no matter where I go, poetry will follow beside.”

She is now a First Story ambassador and is already inspiring others by organising creative writing activities in her school. She read one of her poems for the Queen at First Story’s 15th birthday celebrations at Clarence House:

Coming from a place like me
Expressive I stay – words and thoughts face imprisonment – they’re criminals
That’s why I never thought I’d do poetry
There was no other way to stop the words becoming fugitives
On the run
On the loose
Facing thrill
Now they finally stand still