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LinkedinAward-winning Amersham poet Myndstate reflects on school, growing up gay in Buckinghamshire and finding his voice through poetry – with a message for young people to embrace who they are and tell their own stories.
If you’ve ever wondered where life might take you, award-winning Amersham poet myndstate proves you never know where your own story could lead.
The former Dr Challoner’s pupil, whose spoken-word performances have attracted millions of online views, is preparing for a busy few months. After performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, he’ll publish his debut poetry collection in November 2026 before embarking on his first UK book tour.
Alongside that, he’s partnered with LGBTQ+ youth charity The Proud Trust on its #DeserveBetter campaign, sharing his own experiences of growing up gay here in Buckinghamshire.
For the 34-year-old, returning to his roots remains special.
“I grew up in Amersham and some of my favourite memories are simply spending time with my school friends,” he says. “Whether it was football in the park, tennis, house parties or hanging around town, they’re still some of my closest mates today.”
He believes Amersham offers “the best of both worlds”, combining peaceful suburban life with London’s creative opportunities just a short train ride away.
Yet school wasn’t always easy. Like many young people questioning who they are, myndstate spent years hiding his sexuality, worried he wouldn’t be accepted.
Today, through poetry, he hopes other young people won’t feel so alone. “I wish people could be free to be who they are without question,” he says. “That no one ever has to ‘come out’ or explain who they love.”
Writing has become both his creative outlet and his way of making sense of life’s challenges, transforming personal experiences into performances that resonate with audiences across the country.
Education, he believes, plays a vital role in helping children discover confidence and self-expression. Whether that’s through poetry, music, art or storytelling, finding your own voice can be life-changing. His advice to aspiring young writers? Read widely, keep writing and don’t be afraid to tell your own story.
Away from the stage, he still enjoys returning to Amersham, catching up with family and friends and revisiting favourite spots in the Old Town, including The Swan, The Elephant & Castle and The Boot & Slipper.
Next on his list is trying local favourite Koyo, which his parents have long recommended.
As his career continues to flourish, his message remains beautifully simple: your story matters, your words matter, and being yourself is always worth celebrating.
Find out more about myndstate, his poetry collection and UK tour at myndstate.co.
The Proud Trust is an LGBTQ+ organisation that supports young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring programs and more. Find out more at theproudtrust.org.
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