Last week Fusion Radio had the pleasure of sitting down with Michael Piok. At first, he appears soft-spoken and shy. After exchanging pleasantries, however, the interview began and Michael transformed, his enthusiasm for his work transcending his shyness, making for quite the enjoyable, memorable, conversation between strangers. His past is harrowing, his future bright with fulfilling possibilities. Without further ado, let Fusion Radio introduce: Michael Piok.

You are an international student, originally from South Sudan. How did you find yourself in Canada?

Michael: It’s a long story. During Sudan’s civil war, my parents and I fled to Kenya as refugees. After settling down in a refugee camp, I started school. Whilst there, I came across a World University Service of Canada poster; it’s a non-profit organization that works in international development. They were advertising scholarship possibilities for Canadian universities. I liked school and I wanted to further my education by going to university, so I decided to apply.

That’s wonderful. How do you like it in Canada thus far?

Michael: It really is. I’ve been here for three years, I came in 2011. So far I like it. It’s Peaceful and you can access necessities conveniently. You have public transport, running water and you can find a job. Compared to what I have experienced, it’s relatively secure; you don’t have to worry about land mines or war breaking out at any given moment.

It appears you went through a harrowing experience. Did you begin writing whilst you were exposed to conflict?

Michael: I really began focusing on my writing in 2012, but I started as early as high school. The trouble with writing where I lived was that I did not have anywhere to save my work. I didn’t have computers with Google drive etc., so I lost a lot of my writing before I moved to Canada. The other reason I started writing more when I was here was that my perspective changed. I felt more mature; I felt like I could finally transcribe what I was feeling. As a teenager, the things that were going on around me, and inside my mind, were hard to articulate.

When you weren’t writing, what kind of material did you read?

Michael: I read a lot of African literature. Poetry and short stories, especially short stories.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Michael: Ama Ata Aidoo and Hama Tuma. I also read many Western writers; Anthony Trollop is another favorite.

You and seven others recently won the City of Toronto International Student Excellence awards. You won the award for poetry. What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?

Michael: That’s a difficult question. I’m not entirely sure. I don’t write with a specific goal in mind. When I write I write because I want to express an emotion, not a message. If someone is touched by what I feel and how I write about it, it’s great, but it’s not my goal.

How far do you want to take your writing? Do you want to make a career from it?

Michael: I actually want to become a teacher and teach chemistry. I think it’s a very fulfilling career. That being said, I definitely want to continue writing. I want to write more poetry and short stories, eventually move onto plays.

That’s very ambitious. Why not write plays right away?

Michael: It is. I’m a little hesitant to write plays now. I feel that I need to be more informed about the topics I want to discuss in order for them to be truly explored in my writing. Right now, what do I know about the implication of aid relief in Africa, how do I discuss racism? How do I write about hate and how it manifests? I don’t know. I do not want to develop a perspective that is not worth sharing. Give me more years, more time to become informed and I will write.

At times, do you feel that it is hard to keep a balance between your academic work and your writing?

Michael: Yes! It’s a big deal. Sometimes I need to write, but I have assignments due and grades are also important. They are what got me here. When I think about how my GPA will affect me and what good a poem will do for me, I find myself wanting to write the poem. Sometimes I think I could have written a play by now if I wasn’t juggling school and writing. Perhaps after university, I will take time off to write.

How has this campus responded to your writing?

Michael: (he smiles, sheepishly) I do not know if people are aware of my writing. People are busy with studying and things. The people who do know have shown genuine support… I know the subjects I write about, conflict in Sudan for example, are farfetched for many students. But even if they cannot relate, they try and understand - I appreciate that.

Finally, is there anything you would like to say to Fusion Radio?

Michael: Thank you Fusion Radio for putting me out there! This is helpful for my writing development and I appreciate you guys!

We appreciate you too. Thank you for sitting down with me.

Check out some of Michael’s poetry on his blog www.riakmich.blogspot.ca