Page 60 - Future Leaders Magazine

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
12 Months In The Lives of

LAST YEAR’S

TOP 10

FUTURE LEADERS

FUNMI ABARI, 24
Quali cations BSc in Chemistry with
Biochemistry, Queen Mary, University of
London and third year MBChB in Medicine,
University of Leeds
year, completing my second year at university while 2
ver the past 12 months, I have made a conscious
Oe ort to invest in my growth, personal
development and well-being. It’s been an incredibly busy
committing to new projects and initiatives.

I was invited to give a TedxTalk at Queen Mary University
London. My talk was inspired by the theme ‘forces’ and meandered
around how we could as young adults dismantle one of the most
life-limiting questions we are forced to answer our entire lives.
‘What do you want to be?’ I explored how our environments and
our own mindsets have coerced us into believing that what we
are and what we become are the most important determinants of
success. I challenged the audience to change the narrative and to against women and girls.
against women and girls.
I supported them in organising their rst youth
adopt a limitless focus – ‘Who do you want to be?’. I supported them in organising their rst youth
Since this talk, I have been invited to deliver the same speech conference at the Islington Town Hall.
around the country to inspire young people to think more My voluntary commitments have not been put on hold as
holistically about their futures and demand control over their lives. a result, which is something I’m very proud of. I’ve remained
I am now working with an incredible organisation called Medic dedicated to striving to and supporting others and have begun
Mentor, through which I am a Scholar and work as a Host and delving into nding ways to support the health of women and
Presenter, which involves working up and down the UK hosting girls, whilst I strive to gain my quali cations to practice as a
national conferences focused on providing aspiring medical doctor. To nurture this, I have been developing a collaborative
students with an insight into the eld and supporting their entire working relationship with Daughters of Africa, a Gambian charity
application process. Through my scholarship, I am working on to develop a programme which seeks to support the health,
publishing a book in November which encapsulates the re ective wellbeing and education of girls and women in Gambia.
journeys of individuals into medicine. Being recognised and celebrated by the Future Leaders
I have been building my professional working pro le and secured magazine inspired me to always strive for more, to do more, to be
a few working contracts. I worked with The Challenge to train the most e ective and the positive contributor to my community.
summer delivery sta on Public Speaking. From this training If you are thinking about attending university, stop thinking and
they would go on to facilitate public speaking workshops with start planning. Start on preparing your personal statement and
young people on the NCS (National Citizen Service) programme, gaining work experience to demonstrate an interest in your chosen
which trains, supports and mentors up to 38,000 young people eld. Be sel sh, invest in yourself and make a conscious e ort to
each year. I also worked as a consultant for Solace Women’s grow. Be sel ess, invest in others and always seek new ways to
Aid, a charity committed to ending domestic abuse and violence contribute to the world.

58 FUTURE LEADERS | 2017-18