AS TOLD TO BC PIRES

My name is Nigel Williams and I am a videographer.

I was born, raised, grew up and still live in Diego Martin, Cemetery Street. Very close to Diamond Vale, which most people know.

Went to school there, Diego Martin Central.

I was never much of an “outside” child, but I would go up River Estate, nearer the North Coast, by my godfather. Real bush!

I remember falling down a lot of hills, exploring stuff. He would take me and my brother.

I have a bunch of cousins and two siblings I learned a lot from, my sister Samantha Salandy, 31, and my brother Matthew Salandy, 24.

I’m the youngest, at 23.

My mom, Arlene, passed away when I was younger.

My father’s still around, but I can’t remember the last time we spoke.

I try to do everything on my own but, thanks to my sister, my brother and my two friends Roger and Zidane, I am learning that sometimes it’s okay to ask for help.

I’ve seen people change themselves for others and end up unhappy ‘cause they aren’t who

they want to be.

I learned from a long time that people’s opinions don’t matter. (Not to say that I don’t listen to anyone.)

It’s important to change for yourself (not) others, ‘cause it’s your life at the end of it all and, in the grand scheme of it, nothing really matters. Live for you and not others.

I remember seeing someone spell the name, Nigel, my name, with a Y. That’s trying too hard.

I’m not a believer. My family was not very religious.

I do believe there is a higher power. I do feel it.

But I wouldn’t deny that any religion is right or wrong. They’re all belief.

I would accept BC Pires’ proposition that all religions were designed by men to subjugate women. Just from seeing it, the whole hijab thing, because men look at women this way, they feel women should cover up…It’s ridiculous!

It’s really difficult for me when I point out to people that you can actually see it – and they still remain in denial! They are actually looking at women as objects, men get multiple wives, women get hijab! It drives me crazy.

The older I get, the more I question everything.

I liked secondary school ‘cause I had two friends, Zidane Sammy and Roger Nelson, I’m still really close to.

I had asked them to help with one episode of my web series, Something Strange. And then they were, like, “When’s the next shoot?”

I always say they joined themselves to my group. I didn’t realise how much help I needed.

I did CXCs but not CAPE. I went directly into working.

I had started working at this factory when I was around 15, 16, just on Saturdays.

After school, I started working full-time at a call centre. I was also doing Republic Bank’s Next Step programme and the Mentoring with the Masters programme with Wendell Manwarren. There was a stipend