STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2008
Alexander Rose
University of the Arts, London
WINNER OF
Xcel Creative Arts and Media Student of the Year award
Xcel Creative Arts and Media Student of the Year award
Alexander Rose recieving his award
Alexander Rose won this year’s Xcel Creative Arts and Media award. Alexander won this award, not only because he is an incredibly talented designer and artist, but also because he has become an inspirational campaigner against gun and knife crime in his local area in South West London.
Alexander is currently studying the highly prestigious Graphic Design and Media BA Honours course at the University of the Arts, London. In order to gain a place on this course, Alexander successfully completed a foundation course at the same university, which he got onto after achieving good GCSE and A Level results at an inner city London school where few students achieve 5 GCSEs. As the first person in his family to go to university, Alexander has given his course 100% despite working part time to contribute to the family income, starting a small design business and actively campaigning against gun and knife crime.
I decided I just had to do something. I turned to what I knew at the time, which was graphic design, and came up with a t-shirt design and a campaign called STOP.
Alexander is the champion of ‘Solve This Ongoing Problem (STOP)’, a campaign that uses art and design education as a way of showing young people that there are alternatives to gang membership. Alexander uses positive fashion to fight the negative gangster image, “I want to raise awareness to educate young people to STOP carrying weapons. Friends and family members have died due to this issue. I decided I just had to do something. I turned to what I knew at the time, which was graphic design, and came up with a t-shirt design and a campaign called STOP.” Alexander has won an Anne Frank award for humanitarianism and has met the Prime Minister at No.10 for his work on the campaign.
I want to inspire others. I’m not special. Everyone can use what they have to do something. I’m telling you: positivity pays off. Talent + Belief = Success.
Alexander is one of five children from a lone parent family growing up in what he describes as a ‘rough council estate’. Gangs killed five of his school friends and two years ago, Alexander lost his best friend when he was stabbed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Having been directly affected by the tragedy of gun and knife crime, Alexander was spurred on to stand up against the mindless violence that surrounded him. With his mother as his inspiration and a steadfast determination to make a difference, Alexander has become a role model for young people today who demand change, “I want to inspire others. I’m not special. Everyone can use what they have to do something. I’m telling you: positivity pays off. Talent + Belief = Success.”
Alexander is also an advisor to government policy makers on youth issues, “I go round to schools and youth clubs talking to young people about the issues around gang culture. To make them think about what else is out there. To make them realise that they don’t have to join a gang or carry weapons. I’m working to help young people, like me from poor backgrounds, understand the educational routes and resources that are available to them.”
Interview by: Emily Crane
