My story begins when I was little. Growing up, I was behind in developing my speech and communication skills, often staying quiet and not having the confidence to speak my truth. What I did have then (and still do) are movies. For me, it wasn’t just entertainment. Movies were a gateway and avenue for me to emulate who I wanted to be and express myself in the way that I wanted to. By recreating scenes and characters, I found the words that I didn’t know that I had, and the confidence to share them with the world.

However, as I grew up, I lost that spark that Drama gave me and felt very shy and unsure of myself. That was until I discovered Theatresports in High School. From the moment that I stepped on stage in my first lesson, something inside me changed. I felt that courage and joy that I felt when I was little again. I was encouraged to be myself and use my love and knowledge of film to embody characters’ voices and movement. It was the first time that I felt like my voice was truly heard and loved in a very long time by the outside world. 

Over the next few years, that love of Drama and expression inspired me to pursue careers in Drama and Education. As a qualified school teacher, I have worked across both primary and secondary settings, using Drama in my teaching practices to help students express their thoughts. Time and again, I’ve seen how Drama – especially Improvisation – helps young people build their confidence, connect with others and find joy in their learning.