My Life: Shineze Henry Wallace, 17, London

When I first started at Live, I thought all adults were the same. I did not want to be there.

However, I started to go in more often and attempted to do the tasks they set for me.?

I was very antisocial towards the mentors. I was in my own world. I used to come in with my hood up and gloves on. But this started to change, and soon I was getting involved properly.

My first article was a piece on exclusion, where I talked about my experience at school. I was also put in the magazine as a “key playa” for that issue, which was really exciting.

Next, I was thrown in at the deep end, assigned to interview the rapper Chipmunk. This was when I realised that even though I got kicked out of school, these people were trying to help me.

I was also given the opportunity to be a BT Storyteller, which meant I did an interview with Paralympian Ade Adepitan. The piece appeared in the Daily Mirror. In July, I carried the Olympic torch.??

Since I’ve been at Live, I have achieved so much. I am so happy I became a part of it. If I hadn’t, I would have never discovered my full potential.

Live is motivating and focuses on the good young people do. Being at Live opened up my eyes to so much.

Live Magazine is produced for young people by young people with help from Livity