As a teenager…
I cared way too much about my grades and about what other people thought of me. At school my whole ‘thing’ was being ‘book smart’. I would be completely devastated if I didn’t get an A* in absolutely everything and I basically forgot to let myself have fun and be a teenager. Looking back I think I had a harder time than I realised and it’s such a shame because all the things I fixated on weren’t even important in the end. Going to sixth form college was amazing for me; a change of scene, meeting loads of new people, and really exploring the stuff I loved (and still love!) to do like theatre – onstage and backstage – and even working as part of the tech crew on outdoor concerts! It gave me my first proper taste of the industry I’ve gone on to work in.
After school…
I always knew I would go to university (and it was the best thing ever!). I actually thought I would be one of those people who does every single stage: bachelors, masters, PhD, maybe even becoming an academic afterwards, but that was not the case! Just as I started my masters’ year (unfortunate timing, I know!) I got the itch to go out and do. So the first chance I got, I started applying for arts jobs and I set up my own theatre company in Lancaster where I’d started to build up my creative network! This was when I also FINALLY realised that getting the best grade every time is not the most important thing in life, and that one B- won’t actually haunt you forever… promise.
I actually got Lymphoma while I was studying abroad in the US and that was a big turning point for me. It helped me to see what really matters, what I really care about, and to try and remember to be grateful for the good stuff, and even to be grateful for the small but manageable stresses like an impending deadline – imagine being grateful for a deadline!? I got treatment and now I’m 5 years clear. It feels like a lifetime ago, and even though it was incredibly tough, I wouldn’t change the person that the experience made me.
Now I’m…
A really happy person! There are still a million things I struggle with and worry about but that’s okay. I do work that I love, I surround myself with people who love me, and I laugh a lot. I’m really excited to work with E2M because I would have adored all the creative opportunities they provide to young people when I was a teenager.