Having older friends, hanging out with teachers rather than fellow students, having a passion for a few subjects; these are very common traits amongst people on the autism spectrum. These were also the signs that led Jacob’s parents to get him diagnosed at an early age. However, the diagnosis was just a word at 9-years-old, a factor like every other part of life. The implications of being on the spectrum admittedly took some time to sink in. “Now it defines who I am in terms of how I act, how I interact, what I feel and what I don’t, what I say and what I don’t,” Jacob confided, “It makes me who I am essentially.”

In retrospect, his academic journey was not unlike any other Maltese student his age.

Jacob trudged through the ups and downs of secondary school and sixth form; his eyes fixed on “the light at the end of the tunnel”: an acceptance letter to the University of Malta. To him, University was the key to a successful future, a thriving academic and professional life, and a chance to further develop his love for history, politics, and current affairs. This mentality may have been ingrained in Jacob at a younger age. However, as he experienced campus life first-hand, he quickly acknowledged it as true. “In hindsight, it was a truly enjoyable experience.”

Unfortunately, the journey to step onto the Quadrangle was not as smooth as one would have wished it.

Starting from secondary school, Jacob’s condition presented him with obstacles that he had to overcome. Whereas he excelled in most subjects and did well enough in others, he had an outright mental blockage towards Maths. Jacob burned through six different private tutors for the subject, as well as eight different LSAs at his secondary school. His last private tutor blatantly acknowledged his aversion to the subject, saying that there was no use pushing him further. This obstacle persisted as something which Jacob never overcame and simply had to make peace with. He entered St. Aloysius College under special requirements for disabled students. The two years passed blissfully without having to stumble upon any hurdles, that is until Jacob had to apply for the University of Malta.

Regardless of his satisfactory MATSEC grades, there were institutional and political hurdles yet to be crossed, as Jacob put it. “Going into university was a fight to change people’s minds,” he said. He fought for increased awareness about the difficulties autistic and disabled people face when trying to get into university. He fought for a change in mentality.

“There were ten other students with a similar condition to mine that got into university that year,” he said.

This came after UM Senate had passed a change in regulations which made it possible for people with autism and other disabilities to be accepted, despite their aversions to specific subjects. Prior to this change, students that excelled all throughout Sixth Form could still be held back by bad O-level results; results that were simply due to a natural disability.

Throughout his three years on campus, Jacob proved that his obstacles did not define him. He confidently said that he achieved the goals he had set for himself; he studied and strived like any other student, and he did his assignments and exams and graduated. Jacob has also been an active student at heart throughout all his academic endeavours. He lamented the lack of a student council at his Secondary School and got on the SAC student council the first chance he had. University was his chance to thrive. At a point, Jacob was in two student organisations and two sub-committees, managing two other online platforms and also at the leader of Kris Bajada’s KSU Presidential Campaign. Fellow students would ask him how he copes, to which he never knew how to reply.

Jacob describes being on the spectrum as a double-edged sword with regards to student activism.

Whilst his condition makes him more prone to stress and procrastination, it also enables him to work harder since he knows he is pursuing something he is passionate about. “It means that I am doing what I love, that’s what’s important,” he said, “I know I’m trying my best to make a difference in my capacity as a student.”

Having excelled both on the academic and extra-curricular front, it may be difficult to pinpoint how Jacob’s condition factored into his university experience. Thankfully, there were never any forms of bigotry, Jacob admitted. Academic-wise, he never found any obstacles, as there were always many elements of understanding. The issues he came across lie wherein there is no understanding of the nature of autistic people. People on the spectrum cannot help the way they act, what they feel and who they are. “It’s something that can’t and shouldn’t be changed because it’s who they are,” Jacob said, “It’s what they are.”

Things like the social awkwardness, the missing of social cues, the struggle to engage in social situations and steer your way through conversations; these are the things that come with the condition. However, when coming across these behaviours, people simply tend to label the person as weird. Most times, when Jacob was open about his condition, his peers would be taken aback at the resolution. “Il-aħwa ma tidhirx” or “Ħsibtek minnek hekk” would be the usual replies.

The pandemic also shone a light on another deficiency brought about by his condition.

Jacob never really settled into the at-home environment. Keeping up with deadlines was difficult and online learning was difficult to adjust to. Not being In direct contact with his friends and people in general also kept him from working on his social skills and confidence. “I learned that social media and I don’t mix really well from certain aspects,” he confided. The whole experience aggravated Jacob’s anxiety and set back his mental health, as daily socialisation became a new hurdle to overcome. Points became harder to get across and explaining certain things suddenly became more of a complex process. UM was considerate from some aspects, Jacob said, with regards to mental health, however, they left much to be desired.

Nonetheless, a virtually submitted dissertation and several online exams later, Jacob is a fresh postgraduate student reading for a Master of Arts in European Politics, Economics and Law. He is eyeing a career which entails Diplomacy or Maltese politics and continues to advocate for students like him.

“Be yourself, don’t be ashamed of who you are, and fight for what you want”

The post Raising awareness through academia: Jacob’s experience | ATG appeared first on The Third Eye.

On the other hand, others may take this as an opportunity to push themselves to do bigger things. Mattia is a 20-year-old art student pursuing his dream at the University of Arts London (UAL), after not having enough points to apply to the University of Malta.

Studying abroad was always on Mattia’s bucket list, however, he never expected it to be so soon and sudden. His journey all started after failing his maths A-Level exam during his first year at Junior College. He then dropped it and switched gears completely by choosing Art instead. “I focused mainly on my Art A-Level, completely abandoning my other subjects just to get an A,” Mattia said. Most Universities abroad required a B or better grade in Art, and so he made it a point to get it. However, that did not go as planned.

Mattia got very low grades, and due to the resit system here in Malta, he was only able to retake one A-Level, which further slowed down his process of getting into University. Failing again, Mattia saw this as a wake-up call to do something about it. “In a way failing my A-Levels made me strive for excellent marks abroad so I can prove myself regardless of previous results,” Mattia said.

After going through countless different universities and getting advice from professionals in the field, Mattia randomly stumbled upon a foundation course through an Instagram Ad. He was instantly intrigued. “I checked their website out – they seemed cool. So, I applied for the position, got an interview, flew to London for the interview, fell in love with the school instantly, and got accepted,” Mattia said. And that is how his journey in the United Kingdom all came about.

The year was one for the books. There was a lot of personal growth. Not only did Mattia grow as an artist, but the experience also made him “mature emotionally” as he proudly put it. The foundation course is normally seen as unimportant; just another step to take before starting University. However, Mattia completely disagrees. “The foundation course was amazing,” he said, “the best thing I have ever done in my life – the teachers were amazing, the classmates were amazing and I have met some of my best friends there as well.” Mattia managed to get a distinction and was also accepted into the University of Arts London, and Goldsmiths which boasts a low acceptance rate of below 10%!

The art field here in Malta is often looked down upon. Even the way examinations and assignments are handled is quite archaic as Mattia describes it. Students are required to submit between 10 to 20 artworks, a sketchbook which requires a lot of work, a personal project that you do throughout the two years at Junior College and, to top it all off, MATSEC sends you a project title that you need to finalise in 5 weeks. Aside from that, you will also be sitting for 3 exams. There is a lot of pressure on quantity rather than quality when it comes to these assessments. This takes away from the expressive and personal experience that art should be.

Whereas the art scene in Malta may come across as rigid and proper, Mattia simply describes his own style as dumb. “The dumber, the funnier, the better,” he said. Humour plays a huge part in his art and in fact, his favourite art piece is the perfect example of this. “The Shitty Lamp” is a piece that Mattia worked on this year. It is a huge headpiece made out of toilet paper and the aim of this project was to shift elements of an object; if it is smooth, make it rough, if it is hard, make it soft, and if it is big, make it small. The initial idea was to have an installation where the audience would flip the switch and the lamp wouldn’t turn on. On top of it, burnt toilet paper would have been stuck to it and hence the name “Shitty Lamp” came about (for the sake of the double meaning).

The installation was never finished and the lamp was never used. So, Mattia decided to go for a more current and potentially relatable piece. He made a spherical headpiece out of toilet paper and stuck it on his friend’s head. It has since become one of his strongest pieces ever. The piece was especially relevant because it was created at the peak of quarantine when the craze about hoarding toilet paper had gone viral. This is the beauty of art according to Mattia; that you can create a work of art from anything (even toilet paper) and have it resonate with many different people for different reasons.

Toilet paper is one of Mattia’s favourite media since it is easy to work with, but also very dumb. Aside from the toilet paper headpiece, Mattia also made a Toilet Paper dress which is his “pride and joy”. There is no explanation to why he likes it so much, he just does.

Back in November 2017, Mattia bought his first camera and he has been using it ever since. “Once I bought my camera, I knew exactly that I wanted to shoot portraits. Granted, the first images were bad,” Mattia admitted. As with anything, it was only a matter of time, practice and experimentation until he slowly started realising his true photography style, which is that of surrealism and fantasy. His latest shoot was called “Reincarnation of Death”, arguably a complete 180 from the first shoot he had done, from the preparation to the actual result. Mattia now also confidently uses props and makeup in his shoots, something he had not previously been familiar with.

The difference he saw in himself as a photographer and as an artist is that he is now more confident behind the camera. It is not just the model that needs to radiate confidence. The photographer needs to be able to take charge of the set by directing the actors properly so that their image can come to fruition in the shoot.

Being able to create an art piece is one thing, but being able to showcase it to an audience is another. Mattia posts all his work through his Instagram page – varying from illustrations, photoshoots, to other current projects. “Photography was mainly my art medium but now it is for communication rather than the element of art,” Mattia said.

After a short break here in Malta for the summer, Mattia is now back in London working on his Bachelor’s Degree. He plans on finishing his B.A, eventually getting his Masters and then continuing to work in the field. He hopes that one day he can return to Malta and help aspiring artists who may be disheartened or confused as he had been. “I want to help young artists as much as possible – opening up spaces for exhibitions, studios, and teaching new techniques that do not exist here.”

The post Crafting passions into work: Mattia’s artistic success | ATG appeared first on The Third Eye.

The path to finding his dream career wasn’t an easy one, countless obstacles came in his way and it meant a variety of career changes. Francesco is a 20-year-old student pilot, with a side job in accounts, working his way up to become a commercial pilot.

During our teenage years, it is quite natural for one to yearn to experience something different than the usual routine and scenery. This is exactly what Francesco felt and so, after finishing secondary school, he was off to the “charismatically beautiful“, as he describes it, Bosnia Herzegovina for a two-year scholarship at the United World College (UWC)!

Francesco received numerous questions on why he decided to leave Malta at such a young age; “Is Malta not good enough?” “What would you do without your family?” but he never let such questions discourage him from doing what he wanted to do. All that said, Francesco still admitted that deep down, he knew how much he would miss his family. “Leaving the family, especially my twin sister, was not the easiest thing to do.” His sister was always his pillar of support, given that she is also a pilot herself, she served as an important role model in Francesco’s life when it came to changing careers.

When it came to moving abroad, Francesco chose to look at the bigger picture. He knew that this experience would not only give him a better education but also make him more of an independent person.

While the application process was quite plain-sailing (or should I say, plane-sailing), getting accepted was not. “It was a whole rollercoaster from the beginning,” Francesco said. He first had applied back in October 2015, and found out he got rejected almost four months later around February 2016. The school decided to give him a chance and urged him to fill in a more intensive process for a bigger pool of scholarships. He persevered and eventually got the call. He had gotten accepted.

Before he knew it, Francesco was enrolled in a two-year course about politics and economics in Bosnia-Herzegovina at 15 years old. The experience was a whirlwind of new experiences, from meeting new people, to new cultures and new areas of interest. His view of the world started expanding as he continued to explore opportunities and areas he might want to pursue. Graduated, and two years older, Francesco was on a flight back to Malta, deep in thought about what the future held for him.

It took Francesco, two years in another country studying politics and economics to realise that that was not the career path for him. So, as soon as he was back in Malta he jumped head-first into the accounting industry. Accounting was a subject he had wanted to pursue back in secondary school. However, since UWC did not offer the subject, politics and economics seemed like the second best thing for a while. After 18 months of working and studying in the accounting industry, Francesco realised that even this path has started to lose its spark since secondary school. “I love school and I love studying, so how is this making me not want to study?” This was the turning point for him.

At this point, one may feel lost and disheartened. When teens his age were on the right path to their dream job, it felt as if he was falling behind. However, what mattered to Francesco was that he comes to terms with what he really wants to do with his life. So, he started looking back.

“I remembered that even when I was young, I used to look at this big machine magically flying and I thought that this is what I want to do in life,” Francesco said. His sister, sharing the same love for pilotry as him, encouraged him, even more, to pursue in his dream and he had her full support and guidance throughout this journey.

The job of a pilot is not just about flying beautiful planes and witnessing magical landscapes, a lot of responsibility comes with it. “I knew it was one of the riskiest jobs there is out there but the more challenging it was, the more I looked forward to pursuing in it,” Francesco said. Currently, Francesco is still a student pilot, accumulating his hours to hopefully do his private pilot exam which will then lead him to be a private pilot for light aircrafts. Afterward, he will go into studying commercial theory to upgrade his license.

Being a commercial pilot is a goal that Francesco looks forward to but his dreams go over and beyond that. What he looks forward to most is to having a life, doing what he always wanted to do. “Being happy with my career, being happy with my life, living the life the way I always wanted it, regardless of my career changes, regardless of the setbacks“.

Seeing your child going back and forth with his careers might be worrisome to some parents but Francesco is forever grateful for his mum that gave him full support on his dreams. “She was willing to change the way we do things just to see me happy,” Francesco said.

It became almost a taboo for one to change their course or their career, as if their life is on the line and we are wasting our time by switching things up. Francesco is a prime example that is never too late to change your career and how important it is to have big goals and take risks. Life has no specific timeline, no one is taking the same path and everyone has their own pace. When asked for advice, Francesco likes to live by this motto; “In four years time, you will still be four years older. So why not spend those years doing something that you love?”

The post Soaring through dreams: from accounting to aviation in 3 years | ATG appeared first on The Third Eye.

Hazel is a 25-year-old, digital arts student who has a huge passion for art. From O levels to A levels to MCAST and finally, University, art has always been a driving force for her. Besides her vibrant ability to express herself through drawing, painting, illustration, and animation, which she studies on a full-time basis through Digital Arts, the ultimate expression of her identity shines through when she’s performing, specifically voguing.  

Voguing is a dance form where one really showcases who they are. Hazel says, “It makes me feel free, I really enjoy how sharp and precise the movements are, it can really make you feel like an assassin. Even the dip, when you’re falling right on your back, it still feels very strong.”

Voguing started out as a competitive dance battle of shade in the Underground LGBTQ+ Ball Culture that originated in New York City. The winner being the one who would throw the most shade through their movements. If you want to learn more about this culture check out Paris is Burning and Pose.

The name was taken from the magazine ‘Vogue’ because some of the movements of this dance resemble poses from the front covers of the infamous fashion magazine. The name is a statement in itself – highlighting the exuberant, self-defining confidence of the dance. It’s an elaborately alternate form of raw expression that beats your typical street fight. The dance takes from the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt, some forms of gymnastic, and hip hop. Striving for perfect lines in the body, paired with awkward positions.

But here in Malta, Hazel discovered voguing on her own terms. She started out just by listening to ‘Vogue Music’ at around 15, around the same time she started hip hop classes. The ‘Ha’ and crashing sounds sampled from a film called, Trading Places give the music genre its defining factors which Hazel was utterly engulfed by, as she started experimenting with voguing’s elaborate movements through this discovery. Back then she listened to the music in solace, scared of sharing its magic with others out of fear of judgement but the more she grew the further against the grain she went. After coming out as gay back when she was 17, she really started to spread her wings – voguing publicly in Havana and 808 in the middle of a crowd, on her own and feeling the music, connecting with the audience, and revealing herself through voguing.

Hazel says, “I remember finding my own voice in those moments, and I just kept growing and evolving from that point onwards.” Following this awakening, she pursued a couple of Voguing workshops in Italy, where she mastered some of the voguing’s elements. That is where Hazel met Anna Ninja, a Swedish teacher that led some of the workshops who have now become her mentor, helping Hazel find herself by exploring what niche in voguing works for her. She is currently leaning towards Vogue Femme; defined by its fluidly exaggerated feminine movements and New Way Vogue; that incorporates rigid movements that portray the dancer’s dexterity and agility, allowing you to embrace the assassin within.

Voguing’s exuberance can give an individual such a powerful voice. It gave Hazel a pedestal to stand upon. The empowerment this dance gave her, unlocked her ability to embody a persona that would not have been present otherwise. The music’s rhythm and flow broadened her horizons, engaging with a whole new facet of her identity. It is an inexplicable feeling. Hazel told us, “It also allows me to express my femininity and I can truly embrace it through the dance.”

And even while she is voguing within a crow, she can feel like she is an independent someone. Hazel carried on saying, “It gave me that sense of voice that wasn’t there before. It created this sense of belonging even though I would be the only one doing it for the most part.”

The positive reactions and affirmations Hazel has received from crowds of people, through excited screams and shouts, feeds into her voguing’s energy and the freedom it gives her. “It reassures me that I’m doing something worthwhile. They’re hyping me up and it’s just making the performance so much better.”

She has not yet met anyone else who does voguing on the island, but has had several people come up to her, expressed their interest and asked her to show them how to vogue. And for this reason, Hazel aspires to carry this energy forth and teach other people Voguing’s infectious energy. Hazel believes that it is important that people learn what voguing is, and she feels like she carries some sort of responsibility to teach and give out what she has learnt. She has turned to Anna Ninja for help so that can simultaneously up her voguing skill and passes on the right information about all the dance has to offer.

Hazel’s journey of finding herself through such a niche and (almost) unheard of dance form has taught her ample about allowing oneself to grow in whichever direction they please, even if it means growing against the stereotypical grain. Her final words are as follows –

“You can’t let the influence of other people stop you, just embrace the moment and forget about everything else.”  When Hazel instigates a crowd as they watch her dance, they start to let go. So, there’s kind of a ripple effect at play as she passes her energy forth to the crowd, which is what makes her such an excellent performer. She finds great joy in seeing that other people start to enjoy themselves more simply because she is expressing and enjoying herself.

Hazel advices us to try and not to think too much about what other people think, to focus on what we are feeling and try to be present in the moment. She concluded by saying, “If you want to move in a certain way just go for it, because I think it’s much more rewarding to the person when they listen to that calling within themselves.”

The post Self-empowerment through voguing: Hazel’s journey | ATG appeared first on The Third Eye.

Samuel Sant is a recent graduate in Software Development and is currently working full-time as a Junior Stack Developer. Even though he works in the computing industry, his passions deviate completely from your cliché ‘computer geek’.  Sam is a 22-year-old pole dancer AND figure skater, seeking to defy the stigma that festers in our society.

Sam started pole dancing and ice skating around the same time. He was always up for the challenge and sought to pursue these paths despite the challenges that came his way. He was always up for experimentation and “the curiosity to try something new” pushed him to try all kinds of genres, ranging from hip-hop to salsa. Sam was introduced to pole dancing back in 2018 after his friend suggested trying out a lesson. And with that, he walked into the world of pole dancing and quickly turned it into one of his passions. Even though his friend stopped at the very beginning, he kept going. “I started doing advanced moves at an earlier stage,” Sam said, “my instructor was always so encouraging so I was motivated to continue.” With each lesson and with each bruise, his strength and technique started building up and he did not just improve physically but also mentally. Like every other sport, pole dancing served as an escape from the daily hassle for Sam.

It comes as no surprise that the most common question pole dancers receive is the typical; “Are you a stripper?” Pole fitness goes beyond what we typically think of when we say pole dancing. Pole fitness is a combination of acrobatics and gymnastics whereas the term ‘pole-dancing’ is usually associated with nightclubs and has sexual undertones. Due to the stigma that revolves around pole dancing, not everyone tends to be supportive of his passion as they get the wrong idea. “My friends were always so supportive; however, my parents were a bit skeptical about it,” Sam said. However, after showing them countless videos and photos of him practicing such beautiful art, they were fascinated by what he is capable of doing. In fact, Sam now owns his own pole in his room that his parents helped him to set up.

Last year Sam had the opportunity to perform for the very first time in front of an audience. He stated that this is by far the best experience he had as a pole dancer. It was a Halloween themed show that takes place annually. The performers had to pick a good song choice and come up with their own choreography, making it as sinister as possible. Sam put his own little twist to it and decided to go with “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston but in a minor key, making it darker and suitable for Halloween.  This song choice was very sentimental to Sam as it helped him reflect on certain events that were happening currently in his life and wanted to tell his story through dance; “at the time, this song resonated with my emotions very much.” Using a song that the audience was already familiar with made it easier for them to understand the message he was putting across. Being his first time performing, nervousness started kicking in but as soon as he got on stage, “(he) just went with it and started having fun”. Sam describes the production process as a “stressful but fun period” because aside from facing his fear of performing, he also made new friends and learnt a lot on how to perform on the pole.

Societal norms stilted Sam’s pole passions, however with regards to ice skating it was the blatant reality of island life that came in his way. Ice skating was always a sport that Sam adored, but due to the limitations in Malta, he never really considered it to become one of his passions. It started off by just going to the tiny ice rink that was situated at BayStreet to an actual ice rink in the Lee Valley Ice Centre in Essex. His cousin was his main source of inspiration. After leaving Malta to pursue her dream of becoming a successful singer in London, she encouraged Sam to take the leap and chase his own dreams.

The journey to London was quite a bumpy ride, metaphorically speaking that is.  Ice-skating is a sport that is taken very seriously abroad, arguably to the same degree that local football is treated. Sam started messaging all kinds of coaches for prices and lessons until he found the perfect one, Vicky, whom he describes her as a “literal angel”. After weeks of planning and working three jobs to pay for expenses the ice rink closed up for refurbishment. Sam had to reschedule everything in a matter of weeks. His coach was of big help to him. They never even met, but she was helpful from the very start. She helped him find another apartment close to another ice-rink and made sure that his stay was a pleasant one. After a lot of research and planning, Sam was off to London for a 3-month ice-skating experience in Essex.

Even though Sam received a very warm welcome from his coach, London was not very welcoming to him. Countless casualties started to arise on the first day of arrival and the worst one of them all; a shredded credit card; “I started regretting everything on the first day.” Luckily, Vicky was always so helpful and offered great hospitality throughout the entire journey. Bit by bit, he started finding his feet and his crowd. He met Vicky’s sisters and other skaters who he discovered were as passionate as he was.

Sam also had the opportunity to coach other students. “I was still a level 1 ice-skater but my coach gave me the opportunity to help her teach her students”. Every Tuesday was ‘Tuesdays with Vicky’s’ where they used to have an early morning patch. A patch is where professionals can practice with coaches without having the public present on the rink. With every ‘patch’ their relationship deepened from one between coach and student to a genuine friendship. In fact, Sam was also the witness for Vicky’s wedding a year later.

The public is definitely not educated enough on the idea of both of these sports, especially when it comes to pole-dancing; “We are sexualised a lot when we say we pole dance and it differs whether you are a male or a female doing it.” Females are generally associated with strippers and males receive homophobic statements. Aside from the stigma that comes with Sam’s passions, there are a lot of limitations when it comes to pursuing any of these two passions here in Malta.

Opening and running a pole fitness studio is a possibility in Malta, however, it is not something that interests Sam. He yearns to pursue a career in ice-skating but he knows it is near impossible to do so. It requires a lot of money, a lot of training, and most of all, not living in Malta. For now, Sam has to fall back on his programming skills and keep his desk job. He’ll have to shelf his ice-skating career for the time being but he would love to go back to London to practice it again. “If there was a possibility of a career, I would definitely take an ice rink over an office.”

The post Spinning around the stigma: male pole dancing & figure skating | ATG appeared first on The Third Eye.