Taught by the Best

Through the many years we go through education, we come across many teachers. Some teach us the basics to read and write and others teach us how to navigate our lives as adults. Some we might butt heads with and others we may feel inspired by.

We grow up seeing inspiring teachers on our screens. Some that come to the front of my head from my childhood are Miss Honey from Matilda, Will Schuester in Glee, The Doctor from Doctor Who, Charles Xavier from X Men, Yoda from Star Wars, Deloris Van Cartier (Sister Mary Clarence) from Sister Act (yep she taught in part 2 which was a fun film) or Professor McGonagall from Harry Potter.

Teachers come in many disguises too. They don’t always have to be academic. They can be religious, supportive in mental health, in your field that you are working in or a relative.

I was really thankful that I had an amazing Drama Teacher in High School. During my time at high school, whilst I was being bullied I was struggling with my mental health. I was given the chance to go on a course called “K.E.Y.S: Keep Empowering Yourself to Success. It was a course about sectarianism but more about confidence building. It was such a great space to be in. It was ran by a great woman, who seems to have become a ghost since, called Lorraine McLean. It was thanks to my drama teacher who allowed me the chance to be apart of this group. My drama teacher, Ilona Wewiorski, has been the best teacher anyone can ask for.

From mental health support during tough times in school, to sharing opportunities and trusting me to come and support in classes during my in college and allowing me to come on trips. A personal highlight going to see The Lion King at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

Ilona has since I left school been to almost every performance and when she couldn’t make it, there was always a text or email to wish me all the best. I learnt about the industry and continued to do what I do today because of the hard work my drama teacher showed us it takes but it is doable.

The night I got the email to say I had won the NQ Drama Student of the Year award, I was invited to go to see Alan Cummings in his incredible one-man Macbeth.

In my 3rd year, I was one of the young team members for the National Theatre of Scotland Year of Young Person project Futureproof and was invited to the launch where I would be speaking. I had the ticket for a plus one and the only person I could think to take was my Drama Teacher. And then also my Graduation, it was the end of my educational journey (for now) and as well as my amazing family, I just had to have the teacher who was the reason I graduated from drama school to be there. It was a great day to remember and made me see the importance of good teachers and how they help and inspire. We do get bad teachers and their words stay with us forever, but we also get good teachers, whose support really helps us to grow.

So yea, who are your best teachers? Who has helped you?

And just thank you Mrs Wewiorski and the many teachers who have supported me to be where I am today.

Photo Credit: RCS