I am nothing and so I am everything

Jai Jalah-Kumar, 17, London

What are you so scared of? Why have your hands turned to a waterfall? Why is your heart ticking?

What are you so scared of?

The longer you run the longer you're stuck. Turn around. Run towards that fear. Embrace yourself. Because if you don't, you'll remain frozen. You'll remain helpless. And nothing will ever change.

Why do you think the world's the way it is today? It's not because it's meant to be. It's because most of us are too scared to create it out of love. Because we keep slaving to our fear.

What are you so scared of?

Imagine a scrawny little Indian kid. 7 years old. His mum's scattered on the floor - blood stained, screaming 'I can't see! You've blinded me! I can't see out of my eye!' His father stands over her: primal. A slave to his fear.

You've felt that little boy's fear haven't you? If I keep running, it can never get me. But it's not hunting you; it's begging you. It is you, that lonely little kid. And why would you punish them? Why wouldn't you talk to them, and embrace them, and love them? The only thing you need is your own acceptance. Your own love. Unconditional.

It won't be easy. But it will be life-changing.

Jai is a member of our Young Leaders programme. The Almeida Young Leaders is a scheme giving young people with something vital to say the tools and platform to do so. Each young leader has been mentored by a writer and director to develop their ideas, structuring a speech and skills in public speaking.