“Now when I get in my own head about perfection, I think, ‘What would Alex say?’ And I just get on with it.”
When Jennifer Luu joined the mentorship programme, she was full of creative ideas—but also facing familiar blocks: perfectionism, overwhelm, and a sense of not knowing where to start. With support from her mentor Alex Lawless that’s begun to shift in meaningful ways. She’s swapped hesitation for action, learned to structure her creative time, and most importantly, started to believe in her ability to grow through the process.
Early on, one of the biggest breakthroughs was learning to let go of perfection. Jennifer began approaching her projects with more freedom, moving past the idea that things need to be flawless to be worthwhile. That change has helped her actually get things done, especially when it comes to podcasting. She’s picked up new technical skills and production know-how, but it’s the mindset that’s made the biggest difference.
With Alex’s guidance, Jennifer has also learned to focus. Before, she was trying to do everything at once—multiple podcasts, different ideas, big plans. It felt overwhelming. Now, she’s learned to choose one project and build from there. “I was like, ‘I want to do all of this,’ and now I’m just focusing on one podcast and can build from there,” she said. That shift has brought clarity and confidence, and even made her more open to collaboration—something she’s typically found difficult.
Jennifer’s creativity is thriving in new ways. She’s working on both solo and group podcast projects and is beginning to explore YouTube as a platform for sharing ideas. At the same time, she’s reconnecting with older writing, including a philosophical essay she wrote titled “Can love ever be wasted?” Reading it back gave her a moment of real reflection. “It made me realise how much I’ve developed as a person. I’m proud of that.”
Despite the pressure of preparing for A-levels, Jennifer is making space for creative work. She’s realised it’s not just something she enjoys—it’s part of who she is. For the first time, she’s beginning to imagine a future where creativity isn’t pushed to the side, but forms the foundation of her path forward.
That doesn’t mean the journey has been easy. Jennifer still battles doubt and time management challenges, and like many young people, she’s unsure how her passions will fit into a long-term career. But she’s asking good questions, staying open, and pushing herself to grow. Whether it’s stepping outside her comfort zone by working in a group or challenging herself to explore broader themes in her content, she’s leaning into discomfort and finding confidence on the other side.
Some of her proudest achievements include joining a group podcast despite initial nerves and setting bold creative goals, like launching a YouTube channel. “I’ve learned to enjoy the process more than the result—and that’s a big change for me,” she reflected. In the coming months, Jennifer hopes to complete two podcast series—one philosophy-focused and one group-based—and launch her YouTube platform. As she approaches the transition from sixth form to university, she’s also thinking about her long-term direction. “I just want everything to be organised—not laid out for me, but clear—so I know where I’m going.”
She’s aiming high, with dreams that blend creativity and academia. BBC Radio is one of her dream organisations, and she’s drawn to the idea of studying. More than anything, Jennifer is realising that a creative life is not only possible—but necessary. “I know I want to dedicate my life to art. I never considered that before.”
Watching Jennifer find her voice and vision has been inspiring—and we can’t wait to see what she creates next.
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