TO celebrate the Year of Young People, every week in 2018 The National is giving a platform to young Scots. This week, 16-year-old Niamh Jobson
AN island. The island of Eigg. That’s where I live. A tiny four-mile-long, independent, renewable-energy-obsessed island with a population of 105 people. Probably the best example of a close community in the world.
There are two sides to the island – literally not figuratively – and they are split by cliffs and forestry. I live in Cleadale, the side with the incredible view of Rum, the view you find when you search ‘Isle of Eigg’ on Google, which is annoying because it’s Rum.
There’s a stone track down to the beach behind my house and incredible cliffs, forests, grass and waterfalls. A VisitScotland advert.
There are musicians, lawyers, journalists, teachers, farmers, music producers, sailors, chefs, basket makers, all kinds of people. Most of them are outrageously eccentric, outgoing and interesting. Not all Scottish either. German, Spanish, Canadian, English, Australian, Hungarian, Welsh and most likely more that I've forgotten. It was one of the most cultured and eye-opening places I've ever been in my life, and now I live there.
There are a few downsides I suppose. One shop (the Spar) and it’s not open all the time, mostly only at boat times; one tearoom which serves as the restaurant, cafe, bar and local hangout for the island. A community hall, where the parties, festivals and ceilidhs are hosted. The boats are weather dependent so, often, people get stuck on the island or are stuck with no way to get onto the island.
There’s no high school. That's the worst part. There’s a primary school and nursery, but no high school. Although, if there was a high school, it would consist of me and seven others. Which would be a social disaster and we would all end up as outcasts who have no idea what is socially acceptable, unable to make friends or talk to non-islanders. So in a way, it’s good that we have to drag ourselves to Mallaig on a small boat for a fortnight at a time and live in a hostel.
I love telling people about my island, especially people from Glasgow or some other big bright city. The fact that I live in a small stone house on an independent island in the Inner Hebrides makes me feel a hundred times more Scottish than whoever I'm speaking to, even if they’re also from Scotland.
I love Glasgow but Eigg has a special place in my heart. I’ve been obsessed with the island since the first time my dad took me over. My dad lived there in his 20s when he was a diver – the atmosphere and the people there made him who he is today. I didn't know how a bunch of people could change someone so much, but as soon as I got to the island I understood exactly. These people taught me to be kind, to forgive, not to judge. They taught me that trust is everything; that you should love and take care of your friends and anyone else who needs help.
They taught me to love and support my country and develop my own opinions as it’s important to know what’s going on. To respect nature, don’t litter, appreciate a good view, all that. Stay loyal to Scotland, but travel, for interest.
Not everything has to be traditional: marriage, several kids and a semi-detached house with a fixed-interest mortgage isn’t an obligation, it’s a choice. Live how you want. Appreciate music, real music. My dad and I are similar in that respect, but it wasn’t just him and mum who made me who I am today. It was Eigg.
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