According to Jamal Ben-Karoum, Building Surveyor at John Rowan and Partners, sharing our stories can help make us better people. So, what stories helped shape the person he is today, and what lessons are driving his rise through the industry? For Black History Month, he’s sharing some of his own experiences…
Black History Month can hold various meanings for people. I personally believe that it’s a time to reflect on the cultural heritage, struggles, community and achievements of Black people throughout history. It’s an annual remembrance month to help spread awareness and understanding of different experiences.
So, to me, Black History Month is about sharing unique stories that have shaped us. They help to shine a light on and give us a deeper perspective of what Black community means today and historically, beyond our own experiences.
My mum’s Jamaican but my dad’s Moroccan. You may not think it by my appearance however during my adolescence I was raised with Muslim principles. I’ve never been fully strict in my beliefs, particularly nowadays, but Islamic fundamentals were a big part of growing up for me. Generosity, kindness and compassion are important to me; little things like buying or at least offering to buy something for someone is a small example of the beliefs that were imprinted in me. Islam showed me that when your intentions are sincere, even a small gift can be significant.
From my mum, I got a lot of food, cultural and musical influences. Closer to what you’d expect for a young Black man where I grew up. My mum’s story is rather interesting too: She was born here, moved to Jamaica as a kid, then moved back here with family when she was 18.
I guess you’d say that I grew up in a lower-income household, but it honestly never felt that way. I strongly remember being told and shown the value of working hard. That gave me the discipline to really embrace and play multiple sports at a high level.
It wasn’t until my late teens when I’d visit friends from a higher-class background and saw that, in context, maybe we didn’t have much growing up. But without those experiences and the conversations perhaps I’d have gone down a different path.
In school they don’t really tell you about professions outside of the more common trade jobs like builder, electrician or architect. When I was applying for universities, my first thought was business management or digital marketing. But, after a conversation with a friend on the way home from sixth form one day, my perspective about what I wanted to do changed. He happened to mention that his dad owned a construction company, and the topic of conversation led onto university subject choices and surveying; I was sold.
The more I read about surveying the more this career path seemed the right one for me. I ended up studying building surveying at the University of Reading, and here I am as a building surveyor today.
Find out more about Bellrock's culture”At Bellrock, we're encouraged to share our stories and experiences that then inform conversations not just during Black History Month, but thereafter too. To me, that’s the heart of how Bellrock champions diversity. It’s about giving each other the tools to better ourselves. We are then able to grow and succeed together. Regardless of what Black History Month means to you, you’ve got to love seeing people celebrating history, growth, community, and success.
Jamal Ben-Karoum, Building Surveyor at John Rowan and Partners