ALLY BAHAROON - DIMEMOND OF THE WEEK - DECEMBER 3rd 2015

NAME: Ally Baharoon

BACKGROUND: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

AGE: 23

OCCUPATION: Flaneur (french noun which means 'stroller' or 'lounger')

Dimemond Mentality first met Ally at the most recent event, we were sponsoring in October, the Simon Fraser University's ASA (African Student Association) Annual Cultural Night. He was the host of the event, and had a very vibrant personality, along with being extremely comical and friendly. He was able to keep a consistent inviting personality throughout the event, and held down the audience engagement very fluidly, and fluently. With being a host, at a university student level event, I think it's fair to say that some events can be hit or miss. But, with Ally hosting and keeping the momentum of the energy level quite high, he made it that much more enjoyable and connected. That's when Team Dimemond knew they found another great candidate for the Dimemond of the Week feature.

Ally Baharoon arrived in Vancouver in January 2012, and began his journey as an undergraduate at SFU. Prior to becoming apart of the student community at SFU, Ally had already so many experiences from being born and raised in Tanzania, to attending his middle school in United Arab Emirates, and last high school year in Malaysia, where he prepared his academic qualifications and examinations within a Canadian Pre-University. It was there he gained his very first Canadian learning experience, and a very hefty introduction as to how the Canadian culture runs their methods of teaching. He admits to finding his first "70% work and 30% final exam" experience very different than what he was used to, from growing up and being educated a young individual in East Africa. He described the education in Tanzania to be a wee bit more lenient, and not as structured, but he found his grade 12 year in Malaysia, very valuable, as it helped prepared him for his new chapter in Vancouver, more specifically starting his University chapter at SFU.

However, Ally wasn't always the bold, energetic and fearless host we first saw at the ASA event. In fact, public speaking was never his strongest characteristics; it was actually one of his biggest fears.

During our collaboration with Ally, he shared a very intimate, a very personal story, which helped present and demonstrate how he has become the unique and outgoing individual he is today. He found a very tough, overbearing situation, and molded it into a very positive learning process.

Ally shared with Team Dimemond that he has developed a stammer and stutter when he speaks. A very big observation, something you would never recognize as a characteristic when Ally speaks publicly. And that's what makes his story so much more incredible to share!

He first began to develop his stammer and stutter when speaking, when he went through a very unfortunate chapter at the ripe age of 5 years: he lost his father.

As being the eldest of 3 children, and witnessing losing his father first hand, he went through various trials and tribulations of growth, more rapidly, than others we may know. He felt he needed to take on the responsibility of being the eldest sibling, making sure he was there to help his mother as much as possible, and also to become something of himself. He needed to step his game up, and he felt very proud of having this goal.

How do you over come such evident trait that you develop, without any choice or control? You over come it, fight it, and embrace it.

In Ally's high school years, Ally took part in first play, "Richard the III", where he played Lord Buckingham.

He also took part in talent shows, and began his hosting resume in high school as well. He recalls at one point during a talent show, the show was taking on some challenges, and needed to reorganize acts in the moment, and Ally was told to kill time some how. So with Ally Baharoon, being a very comical, fearless individual, he decided to break down and sing one of his favorite songs (at the time), George Michael's "Careless Whisper". And trust us, that is quite the step forward and move for someone to kill time, as well as keep the energy high and consistent.

With this early experience of Ally's mentality to face fear, and embrace what he is embedded with, he began to come out and exceed his comfort zones. 

Since arriving in Vancouver and attending SFU, he has managed to not only continue to host events within the SFU community, but he's also added doing various stand-up gigs as well.

His comical personality, and his connectivity he creates between him and the audience when at events, does not only come from this ambitions to over come his 'speaking' fear, and his organic positive energy, but it comes from his goals of completing his Bachelor Arts degree, majoring in English. Ally just recently finished his degree this past Spring, and has already not wasted any time, and began writing in various realms, and aspires to essentially release novels and books in the future.

What does Dimemond Mentality mean to you? Do you think it will be successful?

"Dimemond Menatlity means thinking about others differently, seeing the best versions of people and projecting that spark that helps them shine the brightest. This is a noble cause and all noble causes become successful with continuous HARD WORK!"

What do you enjoy about Vancouver?

"I enjoy the incredible variety of food available in Vancouver. It just boggles the mind. I remember being told that if I were to eat every meal at a different restaurant, it would take nine years and seven months or something like that. It's crazy! Also playing football (the one where you actually play with your foot) in Vancouver is amazing. The unpredictable weather often brings some light rain and the game gets elevated to new heights of fun."

How do you feel Vancouver has been able to inspire and motivate you to want to pursue writing as an outlet? How do you feel about the Vancouver art scene in terms of a communal appreciation for the outlet of writing and being creative?

"Earlier this year, I fell in love with the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and joined its Academy. The experience helped me realise that Vancouver is blessed with a varied art scene as well giving me an opportunity to meet some local writers. My conversations with them often concluded with a truism that pervades most conversations in the writing community - the east coast is where writing, both print and digital, happens and encouraged immensely with lucrative opportunities. Ofcourse, in Vancouver, the communal appreciation for writing tends to occur between established writers and writer friends in private scenes which as an international student becomes almost impossible to join.  The argument can go on for a long time but personally, the Vancouver Public Library has incredible programs that appreciate and encourage creative writing. I spent a lot of time in that 'Colosseum of Creativity' as I like to call it. Mr. Van Poa, one of my personal favourite characters, was first imagined and written during a brainstorming session at VPL."

How do you feel public speaking can help individuals overcome fears, other than being able to speak openly, proudly and confidently? What are some quality aspects it's applied to your life?

"I believe that public speaking can help individuals overcome the fear of failure. There is always the looming cloud of 'whatever I am gonna say is gonna sound horrible' but you just need to push through. I refuse the argument that some people were not meant to be public speakers. It is complete bogus. If you are speaking to more than one person at a time, you are 'doing public speaking'. Everyone will have to speak at one point or another, weddings, funerals, class presentations, public issues debate, yada yada yada. So, fear of failure tends to feed the argument that one need not be a public speaker.  

As a stammerer and a stutterer, public speaking has always been a tremendous strain on me. It is something that I continually practice and force myself to improve on. Whenever I am asked to do something that involves speaking to a group of people, failing is all I can think of. If I know that a specific letter whether it is an S, or a P, or an F, is going to be problematic for me, then I end up being animated or making silly pronunciations so that the words flow without any interruptions. This usually ends up perceived as being goofy or funny but honestly I am just trying to get the gig done without wasting people's time."

You are looking to launch your platform 'Shwanga' at some point in the near future. What is the main goal(s) for Shwanga, and what you want it to inspire to be, especially for others?

"I really want it to inspire people with one affirmative belief: No one like you has ever existed, or is existing, or will ever exist. Your perishable atoms are working right just for you at this instance only. Stop wasting time doubting yourself. If you reach today then do not expect to reachtomorrow, and if you reach tomorrow then do not expect to reach the day after.

So far with Shwanga, I have been able to help human beings who I love realise the incredible awesomeness that resides within them. Whether it is staging plays, organising spoken word events, producing videos, putting on variety performances, anything that contributes in energising each other to be better in our own unique ways, and with a smile ofcourse. In the near future, I hope to do the same on a larger scale with more humans that I have yet to meet."   

Do you have any aspiring role models you look up to? Why?

"Everyone I have ever met - I look up to all of them. Unless, they are shorter than me, then I look down. Seriously, everyone I have been blessed to cross paths with has inspired me - whether it is their skills, talents, values, or manners.

My parents. My amazing mother who is a towering figure of strength and resilience for me. Daddy was a wanderlust who enjoyed discovering the world and his faith in humanity was contagious. He has somehow posthumously instilled within me a sense of vagabondic fearlessness by repeatedly calling me 'asad' (which means lion in Arabic). 

Stephen Colbert is my artistic role model in terms of edutainment. Through his undying belief in humour, he has inspired me to always choose joy and make the path for myself."

If you could potentially choose any career (if you were given the opportunity handed to you), what would it be?

"Intergalactic journalist. I believe exploring galaxies could help us answer several pressing questions about life and the future of the human race. Questions such as, among others, why did the chicken cross the road? Finding answers will be torturous but my idea of a career is an act of charity, whereby devoting yourself to a painful existence results to making the world a little brighter.

But until intergalactic journalism becomes a thing, I guess I would choose a variety show host."

Ally Baharoon is simply an individual who sets a great example of what it means to embrace 'imperfections' and make them stand out, to be inspiring. 

As Ally continues to work on The Shwanga Show, a platform of his own, to only showcase more artistic individuals, who are fearless just like him, he also continues to work on being the flaneur individual that he is. He completed and received his Bachelors degree from Simon Fraser University this past Spring, and now he currently resides in Toronto, where he continues to write non-stop and create.

We are very appreciative of having discovered Ally at such a quick time frame, and to be able to collaborate with him before he began his new chapter in Toronto. We are glad to have shared his name, his identity, his story, his strengths, and his aspirations, as we are a big supporter and believer that Ally Baharoon is going to make big moves, and create big things in his near future! Big ups to Ally as he continues to strive in his artistic ability to write, and create, and host events and be this incredible, comical energy within a single room. Laughter is truly priceless.

ALLY'S ASPIRING AFFIRMATION:

"Don't cry over spilled milk. By this time tomorrow, it will be free yogurt."

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