Irem Onel

A true Mediterranean at heart, I wish a way to live in the sea existed. I don’t believe personality can solely define one’s background, but there is an undeniable warmth within me that stems from the hospitable Turkish culture. This warmth is coupled with the boldness I’ve inherited from my loud Italian family. I grew up waiting to meet Father Christmas, hunting Easter eggs and celebrating Eid. My best friend growing up was my Irish Setter, Baksi.

I think that travelling is the biggest privilege one can possess. Meeting new people excites me and enriches my life experiences. Though I’ve asked myself many, many times, I still can’t decide if it’s the smell or taste of coffee I love more.

I believe that creativity is not merely a way of thinking; it is a way of being. I enjoy finding the simplicity in chaos. I am passionately curious. I ask inquisitive questions. The unknown excites me. I always find myself thinking of the “what if” scenarios, the alternatives. An alternative reality the child in me would like experience, for example, would be life with the multi-cultural minions in Despicable Me.

I moved from Istanbul to Boston to commence my journey in advertising at Boston University’s School of Communication. I became accustomed to American Thanksgiving and the full feeling after a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie. I became a true Celtics fan, learnt to adjust to the numbness of my nose in the winter months, and even managed to develop an understanding of baseball. At the end of four years I found myself actually enjoying the Super Bowl, not just the advertisements.

And now, I have found I am a perfect fit for London’s tea culture, and have replaced my morning blueberry muffins with scones. I understand what rush hour in the tube actually means; survival of the fastest. Or what it’s like to walk half the city because of tube strikes. I am used to being shoved around by tourists during Christmas time, yet still find time to appreciate the beautifully lit up city. My definition of rain has changed; unless it’s pouring the weather isn’t rainy. But, more than anything, I am in London exploring the advertising industry the city has to offer. London's diverse and complicated identity combines multidisciplinary layers of tradition and innovation. This gives it an element of surprise, making it hard to predict the next trend.

And here I am, to do precisely that.