AS TOLD TO BC PIRES

My name is Felisha Mohammed and I am an aspiring artist

I come from Warrenville, Central Trinidad, and I've lived pretty much all my life there. We have family all over Trinidad and I've spent a lot of my youth in Arima, where my grandmother is from.

But my favourite part of Trinidad is the beach. As a child, we’d go to the beach a lot. Toco mainly. Or along the north coast.

I loved hiking and camping too but haven’t got to Grande Riviere yet to see the turtles.

I come from a big family, three siblings, an older brother and two younger sisters.

We have a mixed Venezuelan, Indian and black background. Those three are, like, the main ones. My mother’s dominantly Venezuelan. I speak

un poco de español. Not very much, though.

I am in a relationship with James Leid. We’re very happy together.

We met online, like most people nowadays.

My family approve. Women would kill for his hair!

James is 18 already. He’s one year older than me.

We do not remember a Trinidad without crime.

I went to Warrenville Presbyterian Primary School and did not have a good time there.

But it was where I developed my interest in art and early skills.

I had a really good pre-school teacher, Ms Aklima, who is still alive. Surprisingly. Because I remember her looking really old when I was a child. She looks the same now. She's a yoga instructor, just a very peaceful woman who made a great impact on me.

I didn't have a good time at primary school because I didn't like the group of kids I was around. I feel like, for children, there was too much drama.

Primary school drama, yes. They were always bad-talking people, gossiping. I feel like that was the parent’s influence. Probably. Most likely.

I had a good time at Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College, but left after CXCs last year.

I am taking a gap year now. I'm not sure whether I will do A-levels.

I'm just trying to figure out how you become an artist. And enjoying my childhood a little bit more.

Yes, I am enjoying my childhood although I am pushing 18.

But I do feel like school took away a lot of that. It’s nice to have a break.

I went to a Presbyterian primary school, a Hindu secondary school, and grew up Muslim. So I am a real Trinidadian!

I believe in God. A lot of young people now are, like, atheists. Or call themselves more spiritual than religious.

But I think you need both religion and spirituality.

I wouldn't say I have been doing too well on practising religion. I think I'm deciding which faith I want to be in more because I've been introduced to the better part of all.

I listen happily to every kind of music except chutney music. I know I’ll get in trouble for saying so, but I can’t stand it.

My favourite band is Fleetwood Mac. Even if BC Pires calls it my grandparents’ music, I love Stevie Nicks. I know the band was first Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and that they wrote Black Magic Woman. I love that song.

[caption id="attachment_946947" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Felisha Mohammed art. - Mark Lyndersay[/caption]