AT 23 MEET SOTONYE DIRI OUR YOUNG ACHIEVER ON A MISSION

At just 23 years old, Sotonye Diri has taken the bold step of writing a motivational book for young people, entitled “No More Excuses”. Featuring the inspirational real life stories of sixteen African-Caribbean achievers in different sectors, Diri wants her book to inspire young people to reach their
full potential in life. “I want it to change the negative mindset and the limiting beliefs that some young people have of themselves,” she said. “I want to make them see and think that anything is possible.”

No More Excuses features contributions from both well-known successes including Dragon’s Den’s Levi Roots and TV Broadcaster Brenda Emmanus, to less visible but equally important high achievers in the fields of interior design, retail, property investment, and much more. “I chose to base the book on black inspirational figures, outside of sports and music, because I felt that there weren’t enough visible black role models in the UK,” said Diri. “One of the reasons young people think they can’t be successful is because they can’t see representatives of that success around them. That’s why I wanted to bring these people to light so that if they can see it then they can be it.”

Diri herself is a testament to what can be achieved when you believe in yourself. She left secondary school with the second highest GCSE grades in her year and then in 2007 graduated in Law from Queen Mary’s University, after narrowly missing out on a place at Oxford. However, despite being academically brilliant and well on the path to becoming a lawyer, Diri’s heartbeat has always been for young people. “I wanted to get a job that would help me impact the lives of young people,” she said. “It pains me to see so many young people wasting their potential and holding negative belief systems. I felt so strongly about this that I decided to take time out from Law to pursue it.”

Although she didn’t have any formal qualifications in youth work, Diri persevered in this area and sure enough opportunity came knocking through a chance conversation with a fellow student. She said: “I was fortunate to meet a young man who was working in a youth club. The position was about to become vacant as he was leaving the job so he encouraged me to go for it and I did!”

From there, Diri went on to work in a number of youth-related jobs including as a Learning Support Assistant at her old secondary school, Willowfield, and as a motivational speaker and trainer with various organisations, before landing her current job with the YMCA as a Youth Development Officer and Youth Club Manager. “I’ve always been very driven,” she said of her achievements. “When I was younger, if anyone ever told me that something was impossible, I made sure I proved to them that it was possible. I never allowed anyone to make me believe I was limited in life by anything.”

Diri attributes her success to her faith in God and to having a strong mother who she cites as her biggest role model. “My mum has always been a very positive woman. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up but what we did have my mum invested into our education. She sacrificed so much for us so that we can have a great start in life.” With that great start firmly in place and No More Excuses now available in bookstores, the young high-flier is leaving no time to rest on her laurels and has plans to take the book as far as it can go. “I’m currently shooting a promo advert for the book which will be officially launched in March,” she said. “I want to do a theme tune which will feature some top UK rappers and I want to make a workshop out of it and take it into schools and colleges. If this book can actually connect with a young person that’s completely gone down the wrong path and change their life, that would be my ultimate purpose and fulfilment – it would just be amazing.”
To know more about Sotonye Diri,pls visit www.sotonyediri.com.

www.sotonyediri.com