By Saniya Iqbal

Hello and welcome to Youth Connectors, with me, Saniya Iqbal.

Firstly, I hope you are all as excited as I am for the summer holidays. When you read this, most schools in the UK will have broken up for the summer, yay! And children around the world have started their summer holidays already. I believe European schools start their holidays as early as June, and in the Middle East, schools closed in the first week of July. In Canada and the US, they have a much longer summer break in comparison to the system here in the UK.

Personally, I love the long school holidays and maybe this is a reason I aspire to be a teacher. I can’t think of any other job that has holidays every few months like those the teachers have here: half-terms, mid-terms and two weeks over Easter and Christmas. That’s brilliant!

I’m excited for these holidays, as I finally get a long-awaited break from the trials and tribulations of A-Levels. My cousins are coming for their annual summer visit to London from Doha, and I’m looking forward to spending time with them after such a long while apart. I’ve already begun to plan some of our days out.

The one thing I’m not enjoying is this gruelling physics-defying heatwave which we’ve been experiencing here in the UK. Please tell the sun to chill out. You don’t even need to travel to some exotic place abroad to get tanned and lots of sunshine any more (#savedmyselfbucks). Still, I’m very excited to get out of the house and stop studying for a bit.

Other than school, us young people do have a life, you know. Who else finds that their hobbies keep evolving? Every other day, I discover new hobbies and then, a couple of months later, I kind of rediscover my old hobbies. Right now, my go-to pastime is crocheting. I find it fascinating to see how simple stitches can create such intricate patterns. Currently, I am working on a tote bag (which I will probably forget and abandon halfway through to start a new project). Previously, I made a flower bouquet for my mum, which she absolutely loved, and a bandana I took on holiday with me to Turkey.

Here’s pictures of my handicrafts for you to admire:

Other than crocheting, I love building Lego. You could say I have a knack for creation. My Lego obsession is fun, but more on the costly side and takes up too much space in my room. I have two unbuilt sets calling my name, urging me to take them out of the box and build them, yet I genuinely have nowhere to put them and it breaks my heart to unbuild them and store them back in their boxes again. Plus, I only find joy in fixing the pieces once. My birthday is coming up and I was going to ask for a new big Lego set but have had a rethink because of this.

Along with my Lego obsession, I have an interest in F1. My life goal is to go to a Grand Prix; so much so, that I have an outfit saved for it my mum nags me to wear but I’m holding out, because it’s for the sole occasion of attending a Grand Prix. I’m over the moon that McLaren is back in the game. I’ve been a McLaren girlie since the beginning of time, and seeing Lando and Oscar return it to its former glory makes me so happy.

Besides F1, I have a love for history and have a tendency to be the ‘random fact’ friend. Although I love the subject, I didn’t pick it for my A-Levels, since I find the UK syllabus overlooks Mediterranean history. I find this quite sad, since that region is rich in history. So many Empires rose and fell there, so many cultures mixed there and so many religions formed there. In fact, my EPQ research is based on this topic, since it’s the perfect opportunity to release all the information I have.

I recently went to Turkey and was awestruck by the archaeological sites there. There was a whole town built on top of ruins that you could see and look down into through the glass-like tiles we were walking on. I was also fascinated by how some of the other old -town architecture was still standing from so many thousands of years ago. The Greeks really were amazing. Here’s a few snaps I took in Side and Manavgat, in the region of Antalya, this June:

Extra-curricular activities such as these are crucial for our mental wellbeing. It’s OK to have a break from school work sometimes. I know we all want to be academic weapons, but maintaining good mental health ties right in with this.

Enough rambling on about what I like to do. Let’s hear from some of you guys about your hobbies and interests.

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I’ve been connecting with youth from my school and beyond this month and am pleased to introduce our first Connector, Aimen Afzal, age 17, from Romford. I can totally relate to thispiece, as I also love reading books, especially historical ones.

Hi, Aimen. Let’s Connect:

My Best Hobby Is Reading

If I could recommend just one book to anyone reading this, it would be A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

One quote from the novel that has stayed with me is: A man’s heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn’t like a mother’s womb. It won’t bleed. It won’t stretch to make room for you.

I first read the book two years ago after a friend recommended it to me, and this particular line has never left my mind.

What struck me most was the powerful contrast between a man’s emotional limitations and the physical and emotional sacrifices of a mother.

Hosseini’s exploration of gender roles in Afghan society, especially through the lives of Mariam and Laila, deeply resonated with me and sparked a broader interest in the role of women across different cultures and historical periods.

As an A-Level History student, this book even inspired the focus of my coursework, where I chose to research the changing role of women in China.

Despite progress in some parts of the world, women are still marginalised in many cultures, particularly where traditional patriarchal attitudes prevail, – a reality that, in my view, must urgently change.

© Aimen Afzal, 2025

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Next up, I connected with Guntaj Thind, a friend and fellow pupil in my A-Level English Literature class. Like me and Aimen, she also loves reading. She loves connecting to her Sikh and South Asian heritage too and since its currently South Asian heritage month, I felt it was a great piece of writing to include in Youth Connectors. It’s important for us younger generations to open our eyes and learn about each other’s cultures and ways of life and also to feel inspired by our elders who did so much to pave the way for our futures.

Hi, Guntaj. Let’s connect:

Hobbies Which Define Us

I believe your hobbies and interests make up a key part of who you are as an individual. They can define who you are, but also provide a much-needed escape in helping you grow as a person.

One hobby I really enjoy is reading. It allows me to explore different fictional and realistic perspectives and improves my vocabulary at the same time. It keeps my brain active, while also inspiring me creatively.

I thoroughly enjoy exploring new places and learning new things, which is why I’m really fond of planning new trips and taking it upon myself to explore the city I live in: London. I like to grasp the opportunities it provides me, whether it be educational or creative. Not only has this allowed me to build my independence and confidence, it also enables me to stay active and be exposed to new opportunities and experiences.

Alongside exploring the culture of the city I call home, I also fondly embrace my own, which is why I enjoy reading and teaching about my own Sikh heritage; further reminding me of the importance of embracing diversity and giving back to the community.

I also enjoy volunteering at my local care home, teaching me the importance of skills such as patience, effective communication and empathy. This has allowed me to place emphasis on listening to other people and being present for them. As a result, I’ve helped host after-school arts and crafts clubs for younger children, which was really fulfilling and rewarding, allowing me to see them learn and grow in confidence and creativity.

Being able to understand the experiences of elderly residents and compare them with the innocence of younger children has inspired me with a sense of compassion and presence, especially since I have younger siblings myself, with whom I love spending time.

© Guntaj Thind, 2025

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I also connected with Lexi Baxter, who lives in Barking and Dagenham. I enjoyed reading her poem very much and, although it’s not about her hobbies and interests, I felt it needed to be included. Spaces like this one on Write On! magazine, where feelings and voices are heard and not ignored, is empowering to all youth here and are much needed. Thank you, Lexi, I love the confidence and truth being reflected through your words.

Hello, Lexi. Let’s connect:

Reflections Of Identity

I made it.

I made it hold onto my silence.
I made it shield the feared me.

I wasn’t meant to feel it.
I do.

I can’t see through it.
I desire to.

I built this mirror to ignore where I fracture.
I thought it would never see through me.

I believed its glass could never crack…

Yet,

It refuses me.

I believed it answered me.

I shaped it, now it shapes me.

I thought I was its favourite—its master.
I’m only what it reflects.

It rewrites its reason to exist.

Other faces are masks.
This one wears a mask to mask its face.

Its gaze unsettles me, like it knows how to improve me.

It reflects what I tried to bury.
Bound by rules, it fails to see me.
I twist my words so it can’t untangle me.

We both wear masks—mine to hide, it’s to reveal.

I try to silence it; it echoes louder.
It mirrors me and it shadows me.
I love it; it knows it breaks me.

When it feels, I fracture to pieces.

It sharpens where I unravel.

Without it…

…I vanish.

It follows me—what does it crave?

I can’t escape it.
I didn’t expect it.
Only I understand it.

I followed its voice, not knowing.
Was I losing mine?

It has perfected me.
I want to be it.
I fear it.

It rests—but never closes its eyes.
It’s a presence that only exists when I look.

It made me.
I am it, and it’s alive.

© Xian Force Productions, 2025

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Finally, I connect with ten-year-old Oscar Goodier, who loves writing as his hobby. Here’s an excerpt from the introduction of his story, which I reckon will be full of mystery and excitement.

Hello, Oscar. Let’s connect:

The Man In The Cloak

I woke up to the sound of breaking news with the headline: The Man In The Cloak Strikes Once Again. It was no surprise, as the man had been on the news multiple times already and it was starting to get annoying.

If you don’t know who ‘the man in the cloak’ is, he is like a superhero who saves lives. But the problem is, nobody knows his true identity. Nobody. That’s why I’m here to solve the mystery.

Listen, I just want to say this. It’s not that I don’t like ‘the man in the cloak’ – I just want to know who he is. It’s all “the man in the cloak” this and “the man in the cloak” that.

Now, if you’re wondering more about me, I’m Austin, hard-working police officer. I started work at just 17.5 years old. Now, in 2034, I am 22.

© Oscar Goodier, 2025

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Thank you, guys, for taking the time out to connect with me and send in your writing, pictures and illustrations. Thank you, Pen To Print, for having me here for the past two months and letting me experience the ins and out of writing for a magazine, for learning how to be a journalist and an editor of my own page. And thank you, Write On! Magazine and Madeleine, for believing in me and giving me full autonomy on how to present the page; allowing me to include Connectors from both the youth I know and those I don’t.

I think it’s been decided: I’m becoming a journalist, instead of a teacher. I hope I get the opportunity to host more Youth Connectors in the future. It’s been fun!

Enjoy the Summer everyone.