Shyra Sylfai

“Receiving this nomination feels surreal. As a writer, I try my best to go unnoticed, preferring my work to have the focus. Being recognised as the individual behind it feels unreal. However, it is an acknowledgement that my writing has made an impact on someone, and that means a lot to me. I am grateful to David Savill for this nomination. He is a supportive tutor, writer and creative that I deeply respect; his recognition is both uplifting and meaningful to me. I have had some fantastic opportunities as a learner to explore a rich variety of writing forms, to collaborate with other students in fields like acting and sound engineering, and to organise workshops where I have grown alongside my peers. 

I have always been encouraged to embrace my ideas, even when they felt bizarre or out of place. My mum’s diagnosis of motor neuron disease (MND) profoundly impacted me as a writer. Watching her lose her ability to speak, see and move was incredibly challenging but, as a result, I was drawn to pursue writing that goes beyond the conventional form of the page. As my work has evolved, I have developed a passion for writing that gives individuals, who are unable to access traditional literary forms, equal access to the benefits of reading. Soon, I hope to develop this further as a PhD. 

My skill set has expanded beyond what I could have imagined as an eager but directionless undergraduate, and the challenges I have faced as a student have shaped me into the individual I am today. As a result, I have never felt more alive as a learner, and for that, I am deeply grateful. This nomination feels like a significant milestone and a comforting validation that I am on the right path.”