Jamiah Okoye - Lowland Leader

What are you studying?

I am currently in my final year of my degree in BA History. I also work part-time to support myself whilst studying.

Have you always enjoyed walking in the hills? How did you start?

I joined a cadet unit at 14 years old where the Duke of Edinburgh scheme was part of the syllabus. In preparation for my bronze DofE expedition, naturally I went on several walks and camping trips to build my navigational skills. As I progressed to my gold DofE I had by that time been on dozens of walks in various parts of the country.

Where’s your favourite place to walk?

Epping Forest is definitely a family favourite of mine. It is a place that I have been to not only with my cadet unit, but with my family also. It is close by and great for walking my dog too!

Why did you decide to become a Lowland Leader?

I'm currently a staff member at the same cadet unit I joined when I was 14! As DofE is an integral part of the syllabus I now help teach and lead the cadets in walks in preparation for their own expeditions. Therefore, becoming a Lowland Leader was a natural progression in my role as a staff member.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a Lowland Leader?

As a staff member, my role includes leading other activities such as PT [physical training] and drill. I would advise anyone thinking about becoming a Lowland Leader to just go for it! It’s an extremely useful qualification to have especially for those working in fields where they lead groups of people. The tips that you learn from both the training and assessment day are really helpful and enrich your knowledge as a leader.