Student Spotlight: Nneka Juliet Orji
Juliet presents her work to her classmates in the Creative Writing class at #OSICA2016
“...creative arts is a thing of the heart. It’s inside of you. It’s who you are.”
Meet Nneka Juliet, Orji, a 15 year old student at Agidingbi Senior Grammar School in Lagos, Nigeria.
What is one good moment or take-away you remember from camp?
Every moment during the camp was really awesome. I particularly enjoyed the interactive morning sessions with the camp coordinators before classes started. It made me feel inclusive.
How did participating in the camp change the way you see the creative arts?
I enjoyed every bit of the camp. The environment was one aspect that I really found I liked. It was very conducive for teaching and learning. The classrooms also had air conditioning, which was really cool. I’ve never being in an air conditioned classroom so I appreciated my first experience. The acting class was one of my favorites and it impacted me a in good way. However, the one class I never wanted to miss was the Creative Writing class. I also learned a bit in the photography class and now I can boast of being able to take a clear picture on my own.
Why do you think a camp or program like Orisun is important for people your age in Nigeria?
Before the camp, I used to see creative arts as something an individual forced himself or herself to exhibit. Orisun challenged my thinking and made me understand that creative arts is a thing of the heart. It’s inside of you. It’s who you are. You only need to develop and exhibit it to the world. After the camp, I feel like I am a 99.9% creative because creativity lives inside me and I’ve learnt how to put them together to produce an idea.
After participating in the camp, what do you see yourself doing in 5 to 10 years from now?
A camp like Orisun is not only important, but necessary for people of my age group in Nigeria. This platform changes our mindset from a negative one to a positive one that focuses on creativity. It makes us feel included while discussing our social and personal issues. I think it’s a good start because it indeed prepares us for the future. I see myself being a creative champion in the next five to ten years. Although I want to become a lawyer, I know the camp will always have an impact on my life and even in my career.