"I am loving my time at college, I feel I really belong as a student"
19th May 2020 – Tags: Performing Arts, Student Stories
Nell Basley shares how her Paston College journey has developed her acting skills and confidence.
An excellent reputation and a mature learning environment
I chose to attend Paston College due to the strength of the drama department, especially the Far East Production company. I was also attracted to the calm and mature campus environment.
Loving my time at college
I am loving my time at college, I feel I really belong as a student. In particular, every English lesson is a joy. We engage in in-depth discussions, not only about our work but also about how our studies relate to popular culture, current news, politics, and history.
Our teachers treat us as adults, I feel I can engage with them on a range of subjects, and they genuinely care about my interests outside of college. For example, one of my teachers helped me to audition successfully for the National Youth Theatre. I have enjoyed engaging in many creative projects outside of college.
The Far East Production Company
Being in the Far East Production Company allowed me to gain a wealth of acting experience. You are treated as an actor, not just a student. You have the opportunity to truly contribute to the play, working with students in other years and classes.
Creative advantages
I also enjoyed devising in Drama, my teacher, Simon, always encouraged our ideas, letting us experiment with music, puppetry and mime. Making my film for my coursework was eye-opening, learning how to use a camera to my creative advantage.
Next steps
Attending college has allowed me to grow as an individual and understand where my ambitions lie. For my next step, I would like to study drama at university, with the long term career goal of working within the creative industries.
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