In Conversation with: Laker Fiona

Laker Fiona is a Spirit being, a fourth-year medical student by day and a health and lifestyle blogger by night. I am the second child of five, born to Ugandan parents and a lover of people and dope conversation. My love for African literature is a public secret and I also have a situation-ship with poetry.

Where did your passion for writing come from?

I started writing at a really young age. I want to believe that being introduced to books early kind of triggered the passion. Throughout school I always felt drawn towards writing for school magazines and any available writing ventures. In fact, in high school I wrote a hand-written novel about an alien family.

What was the first thing you ever wrote?

I am not very sure what. But the first thing I was proud of writing was an article I wrote for the school magazine in my senior one class in high school.

How did you get into blogging?

Blogging for me was a lucky accident. Before I started writing a blog, I used to religiously follow a couple of blogs and I thought to myself “this is cool” so I hopped onto it.

What made you choose the topics you blog about?

If you’ve been part of the blog from the start, you’d know that mine has been a journey of self-discovery. I started by writing majorly poetry, then I incorporated lifestyle, then I started writing book reviews and finally this year I decided to stick to a health and lifestyle blog.

What do you hope people will get from reading your blog?

I hope my scribbles spark conversation. That people don’t only stop at what they find on the blog but go out of their way to educate themselves or use the information to better the spaces they occupy.

Who are your favourite poets/writers?

Yo!!!! Where to start- I can’t even begin to type them all. I don’t have an absolute favourite. For Poets I really love the works of Rupi Kaur, Safia Elhillo, Upile Chisala and Jackie Hill Perry.

What have been the highs and lows of your blogging journey so far?

The Highs have been meeting and engaging with really cool minds. And appearing on cool blogs like this one. Also blogging has helped me stretch my creativity and introduced me to awesome opportunities.

The lows have also been there. Personally, I struggle with balancing the blog and medical school. Some days writer’s block plays a dirty card and I literally go silent for ages. At the start I also really struggled with having demoralising stats, but they have gotten better with time.

Who are your role models in life?

My mum. Her life literally inspires me to constantly do and be better and reach all the greatness that is hoping to be achieved.

What is the soundtrack to your life?

I had never actually thought of this but let’s go with Kirk Franklin’s Love Theory. 

What is the best advice that you have ever been given?

Be you, the world will adjust. I believe that life becomes easier when you set out to be authentically yourself and put aside all the expectations people have of you. Because again, you cannot please everyone, and it is thankless work. 

How would you like to be remembered?

As one that lived truly, loved loudly and carried sunshine into all the spaces she occupied.

What are you most proud of about being Ugandan?

I think it’s the diversity. There’s so much the different cultures have to offer which I believe is why it’s hard to point out a single thing as Ugandan. I also love the food and the warmth of the people.

Social media

Twitter: @fioneezy

instagram: @fiona_laker

Blog: lakerfiona.wordpress.com