What experiences as a woman I am proud of

Lindsay? I think so. I can't see. Oh, there you are. OK, so that's all right

Don't worry. Technological hitch is are all part of being on Zoom? Don't worry about that. I just wondered if you'd share something about an experience you've had as a woman that you're very proud of

Well, I've had a several experiences. Do you want more than one or just as many as you? Like Lindsay, It's entirely up to you. Well, a first

Well, when I was 16, I first beat. I was the first girl in the UK to beat the BLEEP test as a female. So that was one of their experiences

Um, And then a one. I won silver. I went in the in the like the swimming go like the nationals swimming

Go back. I won. I won gold, but they have to do the test again because they did it the wrong way around, which won't happy again

End up coming second, but still achievements women. Absolutely. Yes

And then, um, I got to play like the netball championships around, um, in the nationals and I met um, Ricky at it was given them certificates out and then from there. Um, I've overcome, like, mental. Well, not a lot

And I'm going battle for mental health. And, um, it just frac your, um, like, I'm still, like, overcoming that. Do you know what I mean? Like what? Like, are the challenges that I seem to have I seem to overcome, Like And then when I was 19, um, I couldn't live with my mom anymore

So I ended up going and support accommodation and ended up working for I almost travelled to called 24 7 project that I was helping young people like teaching them skills and about homeless nursing around schools. And that's where we've got army peer mentoring qualifications from when I was there for seven years. And then you plan to get your own flat at the age of 19

Um, so that's one of my proudest things because not many people can live on their own at 19. Absolutely. And then, um sorry

Sorry. No, it's all right. You go ahead

And then, um, what's it called? And then I ended up going through a rough time of mental health and stuff like that and the depression and stuff. So I end up like, leading to a domestic violence, leaving a domestic violence relationship. Um, so overcoming that and still being there from that is a really big achievement for me

And then I like since that I've achieved, like, several qualifications and working for CLI and, um, like, coming in the group Facilitator of the Year award, which was one of my biggest achievements I've ever got. Um, I'm getting, um I'm getting an interview for a girl. Trainee

Shit. I've never I've not had an interview since I was 16, and it was a really hard process. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job, but it was really, like, you know, lucky to get an interview

Yeah, I like, um and then, yeah, obviously, like doing my poetry, the write poetry, um, been doing it for all my nights and stuff like that. And then I'm back on track, um, going to back on track, and they a competition called home, coming to back on track and end up getting in beating 2000 people in a competition. That's amazing, Lindsay, But the dyslexic poem called What's That word and then so I I I like I keep writing poetry now and it seems like going like all around the world, like I'm being featured in magazines

I'm featured in newsletters and stuff like that. Really? And like, just like proud that I ended up like in lockdown, overcoming lockdown, um, bringing me pit back because I was fighting for my pit for two years. That's for people that don't know what Pip is

It's for a disabled. It's like payment for people with disabilities and stuff. Um, yeah, I ended up winning them after fighting them for two years, and it was just a horrendous battle, and they end up getting it in the end, which was a a really good achievement

And and this year, we wanting to overcome my fears of driving. And then what that do? MRI. And again, I feel like nothing would stop you, Lindsay, you've had such a lot of amazing achievements and overcoming lots of obstacles

I know from what you just said that the poetry is a big thing for you. Would you like to say more about that? Yeah, well, I just love writing poetry and use it to, like, overcome, overcome my thoughts and overcome, like, you know, like, feel like my feelings down and stuff like what I feel because I got just fracture. Like I said, I struggle to communicate my feelings and thoughts

So, um, the way now to express that is through poetry and people may be more free. And it must have been a huge achievement to overcome, um, to beat 2000 applicants for the everyone's and artist exhibition at home last year. What did that involve? Once you got picked for that exhibition? Well, just like emailed Matt

And then they told me that they invited me to the 100 of it into an open night night session. Yeah. So, um, in January

So they invited me along to that session, and then they gave me a slot. So that's when I read out the slot in that open mic night session. And there's a few of other artists there as well that got through

That's amazing. That's a huge achievement and everything you've mentioned like having your own flat and living your own life at 19. That must have included a lot of challenges for such a young person

Um, what do you think it is that gives you the strength to overcome all these obstacles. Lindsay, I was saying like I was thinking about this the other day, To be honest with you, I think I've got very high emotional Brazil, Brazil. I can't say that

Yeah, And they I've got an amazing mom. An amazing like, um a to support me and I an amazing colleagues at my volunteer job, and And I've got really good friends as well. And I don't think I could have done all that like overcoming, you know, even maps and were coming in homeless in the mum, my mum's living room and stuff like that

If it wasn't for that support, I don't think I still would have been there. That's wonderful that you've got that support and lots of the people that you just mentioned are also women. So do you think it's a, um, a characteristic of women that we have this resilience when obstacles are placed in our path? Or do you think it's you've just got this amazing resilience, which it sounds like to have overcome everything? Yeah, I just think as women we have got that because we're born into a world where we don't just I'm not trying to make make this sound sexist, by the way, um, but we we find, get things more harder than men and not get in the, uh, not get, like the word advises across as much as what they can and into the right places that they can

So I think like it stems from that. And my mum's always taught me to, like, be strong and be be your own and can count up for yourself. And you don't need any man and stuff like that and always taught me to fight because she knows that I had disabilities from a very young age

She said, Don't like that, um, disabled you, you know, play. It sounds like she's like she's like my superhero. Oh, that's a lovely thing to say to the superhero That's your mom

And what you've been saying seems to indicate that you think that women are generally strong and resilient. If you were to give a message Lindsay to someone at 19 who found themselves homeless, facing disabilities and having to find their place in the world, what advice would you give them? If anything, I'll just say, believe in yourself and then others will believe in you. I think that's a lovely place to end, Lindsay, Thank you

Believing in yourself and others will believe in you. That's a wonderful way to end our conversation. And can I just thank you again for taking the time to, um, share your story with us? An absolutely inspirational story

And I'd say you deserve all the good things that are coming to you now with your Internet success with your poetry and everything else. So thanks so much, Lindsay. You keep on this stage, you open our back

Thank you very much. Thank you.