Zoë Alba Farrugia

“I still remember the day very clearly. I was lucky enough to get Glastonbury tickets that year and woke up at 6am to find that sadly my money had been stolen from my tent while I slept in it. Sad and angry that all my money was taken, I got up and decided to shake it off with a walk. That's when I found out. As I walked down the hill this woman shouted at me "you don't even care do you?!". In that moment my stomach sank as I realised the Brexit vote had been announced and the Remain campaign had lost.

I had been living in the UK for nine months, and that feeling of elation with being in a new country and trying new things died. What came out instead was someone that was done with trying to conform and fit the British system. Instead, I embraced everything that had to do with being a migrant and my Maltese roots grew wider because I refused to feel unwanted in a country that had previously colonised my homeland.

It's been a difficult journey to pave my way in the creative industry here, but the one thing I love is how embraced I was in Edinburgh compared to how I was treated in Sheffield. Here, I feel like anything is possible because the people here make it so. Edinburgh feels like home to me, and although my heart will always be torn between Malta and here, I have finally found a city I love to live in.

I wear the Maltese cross around my neck every day to celebrate my home and remember my heritage.”