X Factor favourite Emily urges youngsters to pursue dreams
X FACTOR star Emily Middlemas urged young people not to give up on their dreams as she appeared at a event in Glasgow marking end of the Year of Young People.
The singer gave a short performance at The Arches where 300 people gathered for a symposium involving workshops and team-building events.
She said: “I feel like a lot of kids don’t speak up because they are not an adult.
“But kids have a voice and we all have a dream and it’s important to really pursue that.”
The singer performed her version of Ex’s and Oh’s by Elle King before chatting with fans and urging them not to listen to negative comments of others.
The year urged people to look at eight to 26-year-olds in a more open, positive way and celebrate their achievements.
She added: “When you are trying to achieve your dreams people will knock you down, but don’t listen to them.”
And YOYP Voices event urged them to share their experiences of the year and ensure their voice continues to be heard after 2018.
Robbie Mclaughlin, 18, from Braehead, said: “I didn’t expect the event to be so big. I’ve really enjoyed myself and the positive environment of it all.”
Kate Cameron, 15, also from Braehead, agreed it had been a positive event, she said: “It was really good to listen to everybody else’s stories.”
Maree Todd, Minister for Children and Young People, also attended the event which saw Suhit Amin 17, give an inspirational speech despite undergoing chemotherapy.
The Glasgow teenager started an award-winning business and got six As in his exams despite his illness.
He said: “In February, I found out I had lumps in my neck.
“I had six months of chemotherapy, but at the same time I got six highers. I’ve been in remission since September and my hair’s now grown back.”
Young people were given a variety of challenges to inspire them including creating inspiring phrases in a Countdown-style word game.
Amy Tucker, 14, an artist who draws comics had created an inspiring comic for the occasion.
She said: I’ve been drawing since I was younger and started working on my comics when I was eleven.
“Some of the comics are based on real people and others have different characters.
I have a character called Amy which is based on me and another called Professor Loco.
“They are part of theMystery Club it’s a kind of like Sherlock Holmes meets Alice in Wonderland.
“I have found the day quite inspirational.”