Park Life

This is a photograph of an area of woodland in Battersea Park, London, a place I used to frequent as a child.  I have fond memories of exploring/playing in this particular area with family/friends and squirrel watching there - I loved squirrels as a youngster and used to call them all 'Bushy' because of their bushy tails.  This is something me and my family still joke about until this day.  I still visit this area of Battersea Park occasionally now that I am older.  It is funny because I remember the rocky woodland area seeming so much bigger and much more adventurous as a child.   I am glad that my family exposed me to the great outdoors when I was younger, which is something I still appreciate now.  It's good to get out for park walks! 

JD

This is a photograph of a JD sports bag, which represents one of my favourite sports shop ever!  I love to browse/shop in JD stores as they offer current, stylish and often exclusive clothing, sportswear and accessory products which are very appealing to young people my age.  JD is a trusted brand which I would describe as fun, fresh, fashionable and fierce, all of which are relatable to me as a 17 year old.   

Shard

This is a photograph of the famous Shard Hotel - an iconic, 95-storey skyscraper, in Southwark, London which is a building I absolutely love!  It took four years to construct and I have been wanting to visit the Shard since it opened in 2013, to experience the ultimate, fantastic views on offer of London/Kent.  For one reason or another, the visit hasn't happened to date, but I am determined that 2016 will be my visiting year - who knows I may even be able to convince my parents to treat me to a fancy lunch there!

COD III

I am a big gamer and love to relax and chill out by playing my X-Box and connecting with friends via X-Box live.  This is a photograph of my favourite game, 'Call of Duty Black Ops III'.  The game offers distinct experiences and multi-player options which increases enjoyability.  I also have a keen interest in games design and as quite a creative person, would one day like to learn more about the games industry and how such fun and interactive games are made from scratch.

Million Man

This is a photograph of my all time favourite aftershave - 'Paco Rabanne 1 Million.'  I was first bought a bottle of this aftershave a few years ago for Christmas and have been using it ever since. Described as having top notes of grapefruit, blood orange/rose, spiced with cinnamon and mint, the fresh, spicy and leather fragrance certainly doesn't disappoint - I absolutely love it and am yet to meet anyone who doesn't!   As somebody with sensitive skin who has previously suffered with eczema, I also like that this fragrance doesn't irritate my skin.  I genuinely believe it is a good quality product, and whilst a bit pricey is well worth the money.   As a maturing young man, my image is really important to me and 'Million' helps me to to feel good and smell great! 

Berry Boy

This is a simple photograph of one of my favourite drinks, Ribena, which comes in various flavours such as blackcurrent, strawberry, blueberry and orange.  Blackcurrant Ribena is the flavour I enjoy most as it is tasty and refreshing.  I really enjoy drinking Ribena in the summer months with lots of ice.  The Ribena brand is of English origin which was first introduced back in 1938 and although initially having a strong reputation for being a healthy, vitamin C packed product for children, the brand's reputation was later tarnished by a series of scandals concerning high sugar content and questionable amounts of fruit in its products.  Despite this, it still remains one of my favourite drink choices and a lucrative brand which is successfully/cleverly promoted by a number of enjoyable, media advertisement campaigns.

F&B

This is a photograph of one of my favourite restaurants - Frankie & Benny's, which is a New York-Italian 1950s themed diner.  The restaurant offers delicious, reasonably priced meals and offers a really pleasant/relaxed dining experience with warm mood lighting.  I enjoy the classic American 1950s pop music the restaurant plays, which although being a bit 'cheesy',  creates a nice sing- a-long opportunity which my family are always more than happy to engage in.  This often results in a great atmosphere and lots of family fun and laughter.  I have celebrated a number of special occasions at Frankie & Benny's, such as birthdays and anniversaries and have also had the embarrassment of being subjected to 'happy birthday' serenades Frankie and Benny's style, presented by staff members that usually results in the entire restaurant singing along!   

This photograph is taken of a new branch of Frankie and Benny's in the Southside Shopping Centre, in Wandsworth, London.  I recently visited the new branch with my mum whilst out shopping and for the first time tried the breakfast menu which was pretty impressive - the New York Savoury Waffle (a cinnamon waffle topped with BBQ sauce, bacon and melted cheese) comes highly recommended - a strange but delicious concoction!  

The City!

This is a photograph that was recently taken by me in the heart of the very famous and wealthy city I call home.... lively London.  London relates to me heavily because I was born and have lived in the city all my life.  I am proud to be British and fully enjoy the 'western lifestyle' Britain and the city of London has to offer. This entails my love of shopping/socialising which is a key aspect of my life. When on and day out in London with my grandmother recently, I photographed Tower Bridge because I think it is a stunning creation, steeped in history.  The bridge is so picturesque and although it was a freezing cold day when we walked all the way along the South Bank from Westminster to get to the icon, it was beautifully sunny which made my photographs more awesome.  I have actually visited the Tower Bridge art gallery with my mum previously and remember the views from the top being magnificent.  I have always appreciated spectacular bridges and one of my ambitions is to travel to famous cities all over the world and photograph amazing well known bridges. I love the city center! All the grand, cleverly designed buildings give London a really modern and well developed feel. This picture strongly promotes the ethnocentricity of London as people should be proud to live in such a beautiful, opportunity packed city!

Prospectus

This is a photograph of the undergraduate prospectus for St Mary's University in Twickenham, London. I am currently considering my degree course options for entry in September 2017 and this university offers the course that most appeals to me so far - Media Arts. The course offers a combination of interesting modules in media design and media production which I

feel my current media and graphic communication courses are well equipping me for. The study abroad option to America is a truly exciting prospect and the practical elements of the degree is something I feel I will enjoy. Now all I need to do is secure a B,C,C at A level although of course I'm aiming for higher!

LEVI ROOTS

This photograph of Levi Roots Caribbean cook book represents my love of healthy/not so healthy and hearty West Indian cuisine. Some of my favourite dishes include banana and honey flapjacks, coconut and thyme barbecue chicken and sweet toasted coconut.........totally delicious dining! I especially love the chicken recipes in this book, because I am a big chicken eater.  Aside from the odd beef burger here and there, I don't really eat or enjoy red meat, whereas I couldn't live without chicken which can be cooked in so many tasty ways.  Whilst I haven't mastered the art of cooking  my own delicious meals just yet, and still largely rely on mama's/grand-mama's  home cooking, I fully intend to develop my culinary skills some day soon........  

Fab 4

This is a photograph of channel 4's headquarters building at 124 Horseferry Road in London SW1P. The photograph relates to me because I am interested in participating in one of Channel 4's taster days to learn more about the media industry. I like the fact that the corporation runs a number of initiatives aimed at supporting people to build media careers in an ever evolving multi-platform industry. I really like the simple glass, yet stylish design of Channel 4's head office building and the '4' logo structure outside is vibrant and engaging.

Necessity

These four items are considered as my life necessities - my mobile phone (especially), my bus pass, my door keys and my headphones. I need my phone to keep in contact with people, but also use it for entertainment purposes and to access popular applications, such as Instagram and Snapchat.  I need my keys to access my safe haven - home, whilst my family's out at work and it is really important for me to have that independence/freedom (of course, within reason!) to be able to come and go at home without relying on my parents - my keys give me access to a little area of a large city where I can escape from the chaos and fast paced life of London living for a while. I rely on my oyster card for free/discounted travel around London on an almost daily basis and lastly my headphones represent my love of music which I regularly listen to - I find it calming/leisurely and it is an important aspect of my life, particularly for when community around the city which can be somewhat tedious, or to cheer up a difficult day.

Road Rage

This is an image of my theory test book and my provisional driving license. I only acquired these items a few weeks ago.  I got my driving license when I turned 17 on the 6th of January and I got my theory test book a few days after.  I can't wait to begin driving.  I have always wanted to and it is finally legal for me to do so.  Though driving and finally getting on the road is an exciting prospect, insurance requirements could present a  problem as the cost of  insurance for young people is very expensive, due to the risks involved, particularly in a busy city like London.  I also aspire to one day get a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) licence, in order to keep  my employment options open.  I am determined to be a young driver, just like my parents were who passed their tests young - my mum at 17 - the freedom is attractive and driving is a skill that can be utilised all over the world!

Bentley

This is a photograph of one of the cars I aspire to acquire when I am older. Bentley is the name of the car brand which is a limited, British registered company that is a subsidiary of Volkswagen. The company that designed the car was founded on the 18th of January 1919 and the founder of the company is H. M. Bentley. I like this car because it has a posh, sophisticated, business feel to it, as well as a good quality, classy 'high end' finish. It is the type of vehicle associated with success/prestige and something a successful business man or entrepreneur would drive, which one day will hopefully be me!

16+

This is an image of my teenage 16+ oyster card. This item is very, very important to me because without it I wouldn't be able to travel around London at any time.  My oyster card allows me to get on the bus for free and go anywhere I want to, however I do incur extra charges for tube and train journeys, although at a discount which is good value for money.  This is one of my essential, personal belongings which I heavily rely on, on a daily basis.  I feel fortunate to live in an expensive city like London where I am able to travel around free of charge or at a low cost.

Santander

Santander is where I bank and is where my first account was opened by my parents. My parents and I are loyal Santander customers and the Clapham High Street branch in the photograph is local to my home which is very convenient for easy accessibility.  I like that there are Santander branches everywhere which makes day to day banking easy.  Santander offers good, quality products and services and I have always found the staff to be friendly and helpful, even as a novice banker.  However, when I become an established businessman, I may need to shop around for the best mortgage deals.

CGA

This is an image of my old secondary school gate/banner.  Chestnut Grove Academy, otherwise known as CGA  was where I spent another large part of my life attending between 2010-2015.  I secured one of only 30 specialist art places at the academy after going through a competitive process, which is an achievement I am still very proud of.   I mostly enjoyed my time at the school during the five years I was there and took GCSE: Maths, English Language/Literature, Core/Additional Science, Computer Aided Design, Business Studies, Geography and Media and achieved ten GCSE passes. I think some of my best and worst times were spent at CGA, but overall it will be a place I will miss.   I had the privilege of being taught by some lovely teachers and meeting friends for life there.

Mortgage Man

This image of money/my savings account book represents my main motivation to go to work every weekend and to succeed in my education. My savings book represents what I now do with most of my wages - save!  I do this because with the help of my parents, I plan to get a mortgage whilst young and hope to one day have an entire property portfolio of my own houses. I try to manage my bank and savings account well to ensure that when it is time to secure my first mortgage, I will have a good credit rating and have proved that I am a reliable customer to lend to for mortgage purposes. I have a real interest in property and owning, developing and managing property is one of my main goals in life!

Fast & Furious

This is an image taken of two model cars (collectors items) my mother got for me one Christmas as a youngster. These mean a lot to me because I have a love for cars, especially super cars which are what these models are.  My favourite car brands are Ferrari and Bugatti because they are fast, powerful, stylish and attractive. These two 'Speed Freaks' car ornaments are displayed on my bedroom window ledge to remind me of what a nice present they were from my mother and to show them off.  I hope to be able to collect more models in the future, and as you can see from the background poster in the photograph, there are many more models to be collected, however they are rather expensive!

Tube station outside

This is a photograph of Clapham North Tube Station which is close to where I live, just off of Clapham High Street - approximately a two minute walk away.  I use the station regularly, on almost a daily basis to travel to work, college, church, visit family/friends, go shopping and attend entertainment events in London.  Travelling by tube is most convenient for me as it allows me to get to work in Oxford Circus (my place of work) within just over twenty minutes.

Tube Journey

This is a photograph of the Northern Line tube map which I regularly frequent, travelling to stations such as Stockwell where I have a number of community and family links. On a weekly basis I have to change at Stockwell to catch the Victoria Line on my commute to work in Oxford Circus, I also regularly use the Northern Line travelling southbound to Clapham South as part of my journey to college and also Tooting Broadway where I sometimes go shopping.  I enjoy travelling by tube which is quick and extremely convenient, allowing me to move around London promptly.

Stockroom

This is an image of our stockroom at work and this particular area is of the men's Nike trainer section.  The picture relates to me because it is my preferred area of work within the Footasylum store.  I enjoy working in the stockroom because it is a surprisingly upbeat and fun environment - the stockroom team consists of 3-4 people and whilst often a fast paced/pressurised environment , it makes a nice change to dealing with customers face to face on the shop floor, which can often be extremely demanding/challenging.  However, I am trained in all departments of the store, making me an extremely useful and valued member of the team.  I do enjoy my work and being part of such a successful and young team.

The Gym

'The Gym' is the gym I am currently a member of.  The gym has been a major part of my life ever since turning 16 when I was old enough to attend.  It all started when my father said I had to join my secondary school swimming team (as I am a really strong swimmer), however I was a bit overweight and self conscious at the time,so wasn't very happy.  This encouraged me to get fit and I began jogging in the great outdoors on a mission to  lose weight.  I did 10 laps around the block to begin with  and as I stuck to my routine religiously, I soon started to see the weight drop off. I then joined the gym and started to incorporate weight lifting to build muscle and compliment my cardiovascular workouts.  Exercise soon became very enjoyable to me and a daily lifestyle habit. I never did join the swimming team but my dad's suggestion pushed me to lose weight and today I am much fitter and  feel a lot better about myself as a consequence.

Primary school

This is an outdoor photograph of the primary school I went to as a child - Herbert Morrison in Vauxhall.  I attended the school nursery from the tender age of 3 years old and remained there until going to secondary school at age 11.  I have a lot to thank this school for which taught me the fundamental knowledge I needed for secondary school academia. I have fond memories of my time at this school, summer barbecues, sports days in the playground photographed and my dad winning the parents race!  I had one best friend throughout primary school named Alex who I met on the first day of school and stayed best friends with until we left. Unfortunately we went off to different secondary schools, so lost touch, but have recently both started SFX College, so are rekindling our friendship again.

Heritage

The two flags in this photograph represent my mixed British and West Indian (Jamaican) heritage. I was born in London at St Thomas Hospital in 1999, however my dad is from Jamaica, as was my mother's father.  I am very well connected to my West Indian roots and frequently visit Jamaica for holidays and to see family members.  The British flag is larger in the image, representing my main British identity as Britain is where I was born, have grown up and always lived.  Jamaica is however still a large part of my life and I feel like I have the best of both worlds with my links to both sunnier and cooler climates. I absolutely love both countries.

Segway

This is a photograph I took of my Segway Hoverboard (electric scooter).  The image relates to me because it was an item I was desperately longing for and eventually bought a few months ago. I received approximately £250 in my second pay pack and was determined to join the recently popular Segway trend which cost me my entire wages that month, much to the horror of my parents!  My mum and dad were less than impressed with my purchase and to be honest, part of me also thought it was a  bit if a stupid idea, however before I knew it my Amazon delivery had arrived.  Happy days I thought as I enjoyed wizzing up and down our hallway, mastering my high speed turns.......until a massive uproar emerged in the media that was, raising Segway safety concerns - my enjoyment was somewhat short lived!  Anyhow, fast forward a few months and the smile was firmly back on my face as Amazon automatically refunded Segway customers for their recent purchases and I found a healthy stack of money returned to my bank account.  I still have my effectively free of charge Segway, so guess who had the last laugh?  Money well spent after all I'd say!

Happy 32nd!

This cake was especially made for my mum's 32nd birthday. My dad always gets us a special cake made from a yummy bakers in Brixton.  The horse feature on the cake was a nice gesture from me and my dad because my mum has loved horses ever since being a child.  She used to own her own horse and compete competitively.....my mum's links to the stables and the horsey world made it possible for me to ride a bit as a youngster.  I have even been swimming with the horses in the sea which was cool (literally!).  My mother means a lot to me and our family and as a way of appreciating her, a lot of thought was put into getting her a cake made that she would love. The cake is pink being my mum's favourite colour and wow, was it super delicious! My mum absolutely loved our gift to her, which actually brought tears to her eyes.....I guess me and my dad really do know how to be thoughtful and make her happy.

Crimbo!

This is a photograph of our family Christmas tree which I think is almost as old as me!  We put it up every Christmas without fail. My mum mostly decorates it, however I help with the odd baubles from time to time before getting bored. Christmas is a big celebration in my family, as we are Christians so it is one of the biggest celebrations of the year for us. My family go to town with sweets, treats and all the festive trimmings.  Each year we take it in turns at doing dinner at difference family houses which keeps it fun.  We usually attend church on Christmas morning then the extended family gets together for a mega dinner and fun family games.  My grandmother's Christmas parties are always a real treat - granny's location beats them all!  The only down side to Christmas is that now that I have a job I have to buy everyone presents as well (or at least my conscience tells me so).....I guess this is what you could call growing up!

Thorpe Park

This photograph was taken at Thorpe Park Resort in Staines, Surrey. I believe this image was taken during my first visit to the park last summer so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, however I knew there would be some heart tingling rides and I wasn't disappointed!  This ride was the pinnacle of scary rides - Stealth! The ride goes at super speed and shoots straight up and then drops vertically.  When in the air, it creates a weightless feeling and the sudden drop makes your heart sink. Thorpe Park is a fun place for the daring and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, with the exception of the mighty queues for the main attractions.   I think I tried every ride that looked scary! Taking my mum along though was a total waste of money, I couldn't get her on any rides, she's just way too afraid and nothing could convince her - she can barely even watch.  Thorpe Park is a thrilling day out with friends and family and comes highly recommended if you happen to be an adrenaline junkie like me. I say feel the fear and do it anyway!

'CAD'

This photograph is of one of my pieces of work from my previous Computer Aided Design (CAD) course, undertaken at Chestnut Grove Academy (my old secondary school). The project was called 'Me, Myself and I', and for this piece I had to replace all the darker areas of my face with a collage I had created from photographs taken on a school trip to Brighton.  I then edited the image using Photoshop tools and created versions in several different colours - the green being my favourite. This image reflects my creative side and love for computer artwork, one reason I chose to take up 'Art/Design Graphic Communication' at college. I have fond memories of my CAD classes at Chestnut Grove because they were really relaxed and fun environments to work in which a lot of my good friends attended too- my CAD teacher was also pretty awesome, always encouraging and supportive. The class was never boring which was a real bonus and I took my specialist art student status at the academy seriously after having gone through a competitive process to secure one of only 30 places - that is how I actually got into the school!

Stay Connected!

This photograph shows my well known mobile phone network provider - EE! Without my phone in my life, I am not quite sure what I would do - sounds sad I know, but it is true. It plays a major part in my life, used to talk to and interact via social media with friends and family on a daily basis - It is also great for emergencies and the all important online banking.  EE is a service I can generally rely on and do - big time!  
I first got a mobile phone about 5 years ago after starting secondary school and was first blessed with a Blackberry - a must have, fashionable phone at the time.  Blackberry's soon  became less popular and everybody moved on to iPhones so I practically begged my mum and dad to let me have one which paid off because eventually they did, which made my summer!  I have been a loyal iPhone/EE customer since.

Margate Break

This is a photograph taken from a hotel window in the seaside town of Margate, in the district of Thanet in Kent. My family visited for a weekend last year to visit my aunty who had recently moved to the area.  The view from our hotel accommodation was spectacular, directly overlooking the sea and beautiful beach which looked particularly stunning at sunset.    I remember taking my uncle jogging along the beach which was a really funny.  I will always remember the moment as he could barely keep up and my family who were spectating from the comfort of the hotel room were in hysterics! This short break to Margate was exactly what I needed just before embarking on my GCSEs - it was a real stress reliever at a very pressurised time.  I was able to forget all about my worries and do leisurely activities like photograph beautiful scenery which I really enjoy.  I love the great outdoors and our close proximity to Margate's stunning beach was a real treat!

Sweet 16th

This is a personalised cake that my parents arranged to have made for me for my 16th birthday in 2015. At the time, I was still very much into playing basketball, hence the reason my cake has a giant basketball made out of icing on it! My parents also chose to put one of my favorite pictures on the cake, which I thought was pretty amazing as I had never seen this done before. My mum and dad went 'all out' on my birthday to spoil me.  When I though I was just going on a bit of a shopping spree with a few friends, my parents had actually booked me a surprise black hummer limo that escorted me and 16 members of my friends and family to Planet Hollywood in the West End to have a nice three course meal. From there the limo took us to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford where we not only got to go on a mini shopping spree at Westfield Shopping Centre, but also got to watch my favourite basketball team , The London Lions play a match at the Copperbox Arena. The celebration finished off back at our house,  where we cut the cake and chilled out for the rest of the evening. My 16th birthday was truly unforgettable - one of the best birthdays yet, however I'm sure my 18th will beat it!

Chocoholic!

This is an image of one of my favorite waffle deserts from Creams. Creams is a very well known eatery for deserts such as waffles, pancakes ice creams and much more. This desert is a waffle topped with milk chocolate flakes and sweet strawberries, drizzled with a chocolate sauce. My other favourite waffle desert from Creams is 'The Chocoholic' - simply a waffle totally covered in milk chocolate sauce, however I always ask them to change it to white chocolate sauce because it is so much more sweet and enjoyable. Creams is a place where I often go with friends when we fancy a  sweet treat.  I also sometimes go with my family  to celebrate special birthday occasions.  Nothing compares to Creams deserts!

Sunny Days!

This is an image of our family home in Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica, which my father paid for to be built from scratch.  Whenever my family and I go to Jamaica on holiday, this is our main base. We also extensively travel around the island , visiting various attractions, relatives in other areas and also often stay at a cousin's apartment in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.  Out of all the places I have stayed in, this house is by far my favourite location because of the great view from the huge roof top terrace that is really good for times of relaxation.  . The house is located in a small, calm and peaceful area of the countryside called Linstead, which is also close to a family business and the homes of other cousins which is really convenient for catching up.  I have spent many 6-7 week summer holidays basking in Jamaica's sunny weather and chilled atmosphere.
This house is cool, modern, spacious and happy - I absolutely love it here!

Work Experience

This is an image of the temporary staff card I was given when working at the Lambeth Living's IT Department as an IT assistant for one week's work experience in July 2014. At the time, I believed I wanted to have an office job when I was older, however I soon changed my mind!  I also did a second week's work experience in the very well known book store, WH Smith.
The only reason I was able to work in Lambeth Living's IT office was because my mother works for Lambeth Council and therefore  able to secure a place for me.   I really wanted to experience what it would be like to work inside the IT world and to know what employees got up to on a daily basis. I remember having to wear a formal suit every day of the week which was a challenge as I only had so many different coloured shirts! Another key thing I remember form my work experience placement is the potent smell of coffee every time I entered the office room. It was just like the stereotypical representation of the office environment as presented  in the media - boring - dull and caffeine crazy! It is fair to say that I did not enjot my experience there much.

Knockout

This is an image of a sign pointing in the direction of my boxing gym - Miguel's, which is tucked away under a railway bridge arch.  It is a well established gym, well known for producing well known boxers such as Dillian Whyte who recently fought the Olympic gold medallist, Anthony Joshua at the O2 arena.  I only recently started boxing but I find the sport interesting as well as physically challenging. Originally I never wanted to go, however my dad persuaded me to give boxing a try a few months ago and ever since then we have been attending together. The classes take place three times a week on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening, however I  only attend twice a week due to other commitments, including work.  The boxing gym is located close-by in Herne Hill, Brixton, so is easily accessible for us.  I find the intense style of training fun and the coaches push me to the limits of my ability!

workworkwork!

This is an image of the actual shop I work in on Oxford Street. Footasylum sells the latest trendy and up-to-date trainers, so is very popular with young people. I enjoy working at Footasylum because the staff are all nice and the team gets on really well.  Footasylum also offered me my first job, so I would say I am slightly attached to it, and have been excited/enthused by the opportunities it has given me, even though I do not plan to stay in retail for future work endeavours. As you can see, the shop window is neatly displayed and well put together. I sometimes have to help with the shop window construction, to ensure that our branch is inviting to customers.  This is also really important for when big business giants such as Nike are visiting to demonstrate we are capable of promoting their brand in a worthy manner.  Arranging window displays can be fun as people walking by often interact with you by waving, smiling, giving you a thumbs up or with an element of surprise/intrigue.  It is pretty cool!

Wind Rush Tree

This is an image of a particular tree I like in Brixton, in the London Borough of Lambeth. I like the Plane tree because it is picturesque and brings an element of nature to a very urbanised area. The tree is lit up with lighting every evening, which gives off a warm and welcoming vibe and makes the tree and surrounding area attractive. It is in the recently regenerated/improved Wind Rush Square, opposite the Town Hall where a number of community events are held throughout the year. The tree is located right next to the Ritzy cinema, so I see it each time I go to the cinema with my family.  I also see the tree when regularly in Brixton  for shopping purposes or to get my hair cut.

Oxford Circus

This image is an image of Oxford Circus Train Station. Oxford street is a place I visit 3 or more times a week due to work and wanting to shop. Back when I was handing out CV's, Oxford Street was a key place for me as I went to almost every shop and that's how I found out FOOTASYLUM had job vacancies. Unfortunately Oxford Street is always busy and can sometimes be a hassle to trek through but this is a challenge I must take on in order to get to work! I also like going to Oxford street with friends and family for a day out shopping as theres such a vast range of shops and shopping centres located around the area. This is a fun and quick day out as it only takes 20 - 30 mins to get to Oxford Street from my house in Clapham North.

The American Dream

This is an image of my new bed cover that says 'Brooklyn, Live The Dream'. This image relates to me because I've always dreamed of visiting America, not particularly Brooklyn but New York and Miami. My mother bought me this bed cover knowing I really want to go to America and thought it represented me. I recieved the bed cover for 2015 Christmas. Having this bed cover makes me feel as though when I go to bed I'm going to live the 'American Dream' as I sleep, which is quite exciting. The bedcover shows an image of people walking on a bridge, which would be an appealing place to me as I enjoy seeing naturally attractive scenery.

Church

 This image is of my church that I used to attend before I started working weekends at work. I grew up in the church and it has been a major part of my life. I went all the way through Sunday school from junior class, to bible class to YPF (Young Peoples Fellowship). We used to put on presentations for the older people in the church as well, which I used to take part in. I recently graduated from Sunday school and this was when I started working and therefore don't really attend church that much anymore. However when there's special events such as the graduation ceremony's and special dinners and parties that go on i will show my face to say hi and remind everyone I haven't forgotten about them.

Lights, Camera Action!

This image was taken in Brixton and it is of the Ritzy cinema. This image relates to me because I love going to the cinema to see all the new films that I find interesting. Before I started working me and my brother used to go and watch a movie once a week at the Odean cinema in Streatham, unfortunately due to his football profession and my work ethic this hasn't been happening as much lately. Now I go to the Ritzy cinema more with my Grandad because works there and gets tickets free for any film, so if I ever want to go cinema I can go free! He also keeps me updated about the latest film that's going to come out and the dates they are coming out as well. Going to the cinema with my Grandad, Grandma and brother will be things I remember as I grow older.

Entrance

This is St Thomas Hospital, the place where I was brought into this world. My mother went through a great struggle having me, which makes me even more grateful for existing today. The hospital is located in central London opposite the south bank, where the London Eye is. I was born at 04:07 AM on Wednesday the 6th of january 1999. The midwife who delivered me was called Rissy. My mum was in labour for 23 and a half hours, I cannot image the pain she was going through! I was born weighing 9 pounds and I was 23 inches long. My parents decided to call me Dane Lee Jordan Francis. Whenever I pass the hospital I realise that I've been on this earth for 17 years... It's all happened so quickly.

Chicken Crazy

This is an image taken in one of my favourite restaurants, Nandos! Me an my family visit this restaurant all the time or even just me by myself sometimes when I'm feeling peckish. In the image you can see my favourite meal from Nandos, the double mango and lime chicken wrap with cheese and chips! pure, utter perfection served on a plate with a cooling drink. Nandos is a very well known place to eat so theres restaurants located everywhere, the one I go to the most is clapham north because that's where I live but theres also Nandos in brixton. which is handy if I'm ever staying with my Dad. When I'm trying to be healthy Nandos is a good option for great tasting but also not boring food that's packed with flavour and everything my body needs!

Basketball

This image is an image of the Clapham Common basketball courts which I visit regularly to practice my shooting and general basketball skills. This image relates to me because I like to play basketball a lot as a hobby, specially in summer when everyone is at the courts and there is a good summer vibe going on at the park. Its also a key way to keep my fitness up as I like to try and keep fit and do regular exercise, in other words it's a fun way of losing weight! Unfortunately there are medical issues with my ankles so I cannot keep jumping around and therefore cannot take my basketball career seriously as a future career option however I am still happy with just playing it for fitness and fun. I have been playing basketball for 2 years now. I started off going to serious training sessions with the 'Brixton Topcats', however when my ankle started playing up and the fact that I had a problem with it got confirmed by a doctor my training began to die down till eventually I only played it occasionally for health and entertainment purposes.

Name Brands

This is an image of an old art project I when I was in year 11 at secondary school. It was done for my computer aided design course. The teacher asked us to create a moodboard that reflects us. This moodboard reflects my character because it expresses my love for brands of clothing, it also reflects my British/West Indian heritage, my passion for basketball and my favorite aftershave, "Million", This image gives off an overall view of my personality and what I enjoy and like to use, do or wear. This image again portrays me as a typical teenager of todays generation which is stereotyped as being materialistic in todays media.

Safe Haven

This is an image of my TV and XBOX. This image relates to me because it's my 'safe haven' aka the place where I go when I feel I need to relax and have some fun or unwind. I can watch Netflix or play various games on my XBOX so this area provides plenty of entertainment. I have a chair my mother bought for me for my birthday because she knows this is where I will most likely be in the house so she thought I should be comfortable sitting there. I was able to purchase my XBOX and my TV from the money I earn working at FOOTASYLUM which makes my safe haven all the better!

FOOTASYLUM

This is an image of my FOOTASYLUM employee handbook and staff card. This picture relates to me because work has been an important part of my life for around about 7 months, I first started looking for jobs last summer straight after I graduated from secondary school. With no qualifications and no grades yet received for GCSE results it was hard finding a job, however FOOTASYLUM gave me the chance I was looking for and I have been working there ever since. Working there has given me key skills needed in the working society that I will always use throughout my life and my job career no matter what it is. An example of one of type of skills I have learned are social skills. I currently work on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This takes up a lot of my spare time but I can still keep up with my work at college throughout the week. Working while doing education can sometimes be hard but the 20% discount I get makes up for trouble! FOOTASYLUM has a fun staff team and a nice positive working environment, however i do not plan to work there in the future, this is a temporary job to make money that i can save and occasionally spend when i want to treat myself.

Sneaker Freak

This is an image of a few pairs of my trainers. This picture relates to me because I've always liked to wear new trainers and keep up with the latest fashion in trainer wear, Unfortunately until lately I had to rely on my parents to buy me trainers so i couldn't get them very often and therefore couldn't keep up with all the new nice models that were coming out, but now that I work I can afford to buy at least a new pair every month! it may be over the top but I like it. Conveniently my job at the moment is at a trainer store which is quite well known as 'FOOTASYLUM'. This job compliments my interest in sneakers. This trainer addiction and love of branded clothing makes me conform to the stereotypical representation of young people in the media. They portray the younger generation as materialistic which in my case is very true.