Year 17/28 – Don't take off...

I'm now in grade 12 at IGS Mainz-Bretzenheim. A school full of children with their daddies' money and privileged, very arrogant Mainz 05 youth players. (Which is totally fine, but when you're one of four children with an immigrant background, it's a bit of a challenge...) No one talks to you. Everyone thinks you're weird because you're focused. So there we are, standing in a circle during the last big break before the Easter holidays. My boys know that I always work on my career after school. That's the topic of conversation: two rap giants are releasing their albums. 'One day I'll be filming with them too,' I say proudly to the group. Everyone looks at me with slight disbelief. One of them turns to me and says: 'Don't get carried away. You filmed a restaurant video...' That breaks my heart. Let me dream, I think to myself. You know what, I'll show you what I can do when I want to. The Easter holidays begin. I make phone calls and write emails for my life. Yes, my only big reference is the aforementioned video for the Harput restaurant. I don't know anything about music videos, but the group has triggered me so much that I have to prove that they are talking to Farhad Tahir himself. After about 50 phone calls and about 100 emails in the first 3 days, I receive an email: 'I have an idea. Send me your number. Sent from my iPhone.' Half asleep (it's the holidays), I send my number back at 8.30 a.m. At 10 a.m., I'm woken up by a phone call. 'Hello?' I say sleepily. 'Are you still asleep or what, hahaha?' In a split second, I realise that it's a call from one of my 100 emails. 'I'm the manager of K..., we're on tour right now, come by and show us what you can do.' 'What? Yes, sure. When should I be there?' I ask my mum, uncle and friends for money for a hire car and camera equipment. I have to go to Oberhausen and seize this opportunity. One day later, I'm there. After that, I'm called to Mannheim and Offenbach to gather more material. On Saturday evening before the end of the holidays, I'm home. Pressure to perform. I want to deliver again. I edit all night until Sunday evening. I don't even realise yet that my speed and quality are incredible. I hand it in and go to sleep. The first day back at school after the holidays. Do you know how it feels when you say that one day you'll work with them, no one believes you, and then you go on Easter holidays and film with one of those rappers? Hahahahaha. I only told my close circle about it, but I come to school and am immediately approached. 'Broooo, what have you done? ... just posted you?!' And so, unfortunately, the whole school found out. All of a sudden, I was there. But I had no idea that this would open a dark chapter in my life.