An inspiring teen from Maidstone has won the ‘Arts’ award at Kent County Council’s Try Angle Awards. The awards are designed to raise the profile of young people aged 11-18 (or those with special needs up to the age of 25) who try, often with little recognition, to do their best. The awards recognise young people’s achievements across a range of categories. These include achievement in the arts, sports, community action, as good friends or young carers, and for positive intervention.
CXK counsellor, Janina Malyon, accepts Marcus’ Try Angle Award
CXK’s emotional wellbeing team nominated Marcus for the award, having worked with him for a number of months. Having struggled for years with his mental health, particularly during his GCSEs, Marcus was diagnosed with depression in 2015. Despite his struggle, he did well in his exams, and he was able to return to the 6th form in his school. He is now completing his final year of A Levels.
Although Marcus continues to face times of emotional struggle, he has made incredible progress in improving his mental health. He achieved this through working with CXK’s counselling service and by expressing himself through art. A keen actor and screenwriter, he has an ambition to pursue a career in the film industry. Marcus has therefore used his skills to channel his experiences, creating a short screenplay about depression, entitled Cherry Flop.
Janina Malyon, counsellor at CXK, said: “Marcus is nothing short of an inspiration. He has created an inspired screenplay to portray his experiences of coping with a mental illness. He beautifully shares insight into his reality of living with depression. This encourages his audience to think, reconsider and connect with his story.
“Marcus has been a pleasure to work with. He is a real talent who has channeled something deeply challenging into a piece of art. This is why he deserves this award.”
