“My name is Milaan Mitchell, I am 16 years old and I go to Brighton College Abu Dhabi where I am doing A Levels in Math, PE and Economics. I have lived in Abu Dhabi for three years after moving from London and I now live with my parents and my younger sister. My passions are sport, family and friends.
“My sporting achievements have been many but to name a few I played at West Ham Football Club in London where my team won the shield. I was nine at the time. At the age of 11, I was the mascot for Arsenal v Man U at the Emirates Stadium, a dream come true for a Gooner like me.
“I now play for Abu Dhabi Youth Football Club (ADYFC) and am the captain for the U19s. I was awarded sportsman of the year last year for my age group. I coach the U14 girls team at Brighton College Abu Dhabi and also the U16 at ADYFC. Football is my main sport but I also play both touch and contact rugby.
In the future I would like to become a sports psychologist so that I can work with people and motivate them within a sporting environment.
“I am interested in people generally and have been trained as a Mental Health First Aider. I am one of 18 pupils who are the first peer mentors at Brighton College, available to younger pupils.
I enjoy lending a listening ear and helping the younger pupils to find solutions to their worries.
In the past I have done some work experience in the PE department coaching the younger year and I love it when they come up and say hello to me in the corridors at school.
“I have many role models, for example, my parents. My parents have played a very important part of my life, making me the young man I am today. Ever since I was a child, my parents have taught me right from wrong, but the biggest lesson of all was respect. People who show respect will be the people who will go far in life and achieve their aspirations. That’s my dream.
“I want to be able to make a difference in someone’s life, changing their life for the better. I want people to see the positive sides of life instead of the negative.
I want to help people believe that if they have a dream they can achieve it if they put their minds to it.
They can do anything they want to if they believe. My advice to anyone would be that if you have a dream, believe that you can do it”.
