Jamie

Jamie's parents split up when he was young. His father died when he was nine, so he lived with his mum and brother before moving out when he went to college. When we filmed with him he had just started a Computer Science degree at Queen’s University, Belfast, whilst working part-time designing computer programmes.

In whatever spare time he has, Jamie is passionate about his involvement as a member of the Alliance party. Considering himself neither Catholic nor Protestant, he is committed to campaigning for a party that wants to bring an end to sectarianism in Northern Ireland.

We’ve seen you aged seven and 14 – but where are you now?

"Generally, I’m where I want to be. I find myself with a home, a good group of friends, a supportive family, and working in a good job in software. I’m working on a degree I enjoy, and contributing to civic life through my activism with Alliance.

"In reality, I think many of the things I’m doing now reflect the interests and aspirations I’ve always had. Not being a neutral observer, it’s hard to know if the place I have found myself is somewhere someone could have predicted."

Are you following the path you imagined for yourself when you were those ages?

"Things haven’t always went quite how I thought they would – the path I have followed isn’t one I would have predicted had I been asked at a younger age. To give one example; I had hoped to go to university immediately after completing my A Levels, but narrowly didn’t make it. Even now, I still hate the thought of Psychology, as one missed mark in the subject cost me a place!

"In retrospect, this really wasn’t a bad thing. I found myself at Belfast Metropolitan College for two years instead, and taking an internship in the Netherlands that I would never have taken otherwise. If I had stayed exactly on-path, there are a lot of things I would have missed out on.

"And, after that, I managed to make it to university anyway – being admitted directly to second year."

And how have your relationships changed?

"Having moved away from home, I’ve found myself a lot less dependent on family. However, I am happy to say my relationship with them has remained positive. I have kept friendships from my teenage years and developed a lot of new ones."

Looking back to those ages, what advice would you give yourself?

"If I could give myself any advice, it would be simple – worry less, try to enjoy things more, and do more for other people. Things always find a way of working themselves out. Take every opportunity you can and do everything you can do. Be adventurous."

Are there any moments you look back on and think ‘perhaps I would have done that differently’?

"No. We’re defined by the decisions we take, even if they’re not always great decisions. I could try to write off a few more ill-advised moments - like dying my hair purple, then trying to dye it blond (this didn’t exactly work – I’m glad the cameras weren’t around that day!), or many other things I did as a teenager as stupid. But, if I could go back and do it all again, I imagine I would not do a great deal differently."

Where should we expect to find you when Up returns in seven year’s time?

"The sensible answer to a question like this would be to write about how my work in either software or politics (or whatever else I find myself doing) has progressed, but that isn’t an honest answer. I’ve always felt anyone that has a very particular long-term plan is either very naïve, in that they write off the unpredictable nature of life, or so boring that nothing unpredictable happens in their life.

"Really, I don’t know - nor do I want to know - but I can’t wait to find out."