An award-winning 16-year-old Seven Kings writer is championing the power of the pen to overcome mental health struggles.
Kashif Chowdhury, of Herbert Road, was crowned champion of the Wicked Young Writer Awards 2018 in the 15 to 17 ages category by former Labour MP Ed Balls on June 21. His winning story, titled “All is Quiet on the Western Front”, aims to shine an alternative light on the life in the trenches for soliders during the First World War.
“I was really anxious,” he said, reflecting on how he felt as his name was called out as the winner.
“I thought ‘don’t fall over yourself as you do normally.’”
He was picked from more than 110 finalists by a judging panel including children’s author Cressida Cowell and south London poet Caleb Femi, as well as Mr Balls. His story was influenced by the works of English poet and soldier Wilfred Owen, who he had studied during his GCSEs,
“Most people think about the fighting aspect of the war,” he said.
“But the reality behind that is that there is a lot of waiting around in the trenches. There is a mundane aspect to it.”
Describing what the award means to him, he said: “It means a lot. Over the past few years I have struggled a lot with self-esteem, confidence and obsessive compulsive disorder.
“It’s really hard when you are stuck with those thoughts to focus on your positive achievements. But now I know that some people know my work and that it is worth something.”
