Events

Hi my name is Meryem ! I am a 16 year old TY student from Kildare.

I’m a creative young person from Kildare with a passion for expressing myself in lots of different ways! Especially through cooking and hand crafts,. I enjoy exploring creativity across things like music, fashion, and DIY, and I’m always looking for new ways to learn and improve. As a youth ambassador for Cruinniú na nÓg, I’m excited to represent young people and share what creativity means to me.

My earliest creative memory is from primary school when we were drawing lions, but I chose not to add the mane, turning mine into more of a puma. When we displayed them my classmates kept complimenting it which made me feel really proud. It was the first time I realised that making a small creative choice could make something feel uniquely mine!!!

One of my biggest creative passions is cooking and baking, which I started around age 12 after finding a simple muffin recipe. I was inspired by stories about my grandmother’s cooking! Even though I had no experience and had to ask my brother to turn on the oven each time. I loved it straight away, especially seeing other people enjoy the food I made.

When I’m creating I feel completely focused like I’m in my own little world and nothing else matters. I often lose track of time because I’m so absorbed in what I’m doing. It’s not relaxing exactly, it’s more like being fully locked into the moment.

If you think you’re not creative you probably just haven’t found your outlet yet. Creativity comes in so many forms, and improving over time builds real confidence in what I like to call “evidence over affirmation.” Everyone is naturally creative, and it’s something we should keep developing as we grow.

What’s special about Cruinniú na nÓg is that it gives young people a real platform or like outlet to explore and celebrate their creativity. Events like this matter because they create space for expression. Being selected as a Kildare youth ambassador feels amazing, and I’m really proud to be part of it.