“There are patterns in my life, aspects of my personality that are still there and were there as a child, my mother always said I was single-minded. There was no compromise with me, she felt powerless as a parent. I just don’t think I ever needed parental approval. I want to do this now, and I am going to do it. My mum says she didn’t know where I got this attitude from, this idea that I could do anything I set my mind to. But she learnt after a while there was no point in arguing with me because I just don’t give in.”
