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Today I received my official results from The SPACE - D*D*D* in Performing Arts with an A* for my extended project.
As we finish our time at The SPACE, a specialist performing arts college, I'm feeling such a a mix of both gratitude and excitement. My path here wasn’t straightforward. After dropping out of a previous college due to mental health struggles, I felt pretty lost. Applying to The SPACE turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made.
I had already been to a different college, on a media production course, but had dropped out due to issues with mental health. I'd lost all motivation for the subject and was consequently failing.
I applied to this specialist performing arts college on a whim - I'd applied for a few different courses at my old college too but I wasn't particularly passionate about any of them. I'd always loved drama and acting at school, and suddenly this felt like the right path for me to go down at college. I still loved media production, but that course was so unfulfilling. It was literally just following YouTube tutorials on VFX and pressing the record button on a camera. There wasn't anything on directing films, or how to tell stories to audiences. That's the stuff I really wanted to learn, and a performing arts course seemed the best route.
The SPACE was much smaller and with far fewer students than my old one. Everything there appeared to have a personal touch, unlike my first college who advertised their performing arts shows purely as student productions that were simply just part of their course. This new college had more of a 'company ethos,' making everything feely so much more intricate and professional. At the auditions, I noticed that the staff seemed to know every student's name off the top of their heads - no need for lanyards with names and student numbers. The receptionist would welcome and greet every person on their way in.
Fast forward to now, I've had the chance to dive into all sorts of theatre styles over the past two years, opportunities I probably wouldn't have had elsewhere. The course here was unique, pushing us to our full potential while being flexible with our abilities and desires. The staff are incredibly passionate and thoughtful, and that includes everyone from our teachers to the costume designer and technicians.
For the first time, I felt like I truly belonged. Whether I had a role in a production or not, I always felt valued. The support from the staff was amazing, especially when I lost my grandad at the start of my second year. Their kindness helped me get through that tough time.
I've also made a great group of friends who I believe I'll stay in touch with for years. Even though COVID-19 cut our time short and we couldn’t perform our final show, we managed to finish our coursework online with the same level of support. Leaving college unexpectedly on a random Friday in March wasn’t what I imagined, but our recent gathering on results day gave us a bit of closure.
I'm thrilled that I achieved the highest possible grades in both the main course and our extended project. It’s the first time I've felt truly successful at something, and it's even better seeing my friends do so well too.
As we all get ready to head off to university in September, I'm filled with hope and excitement. I'll be moving to London to continue my studies in drama and acting. Even though my friends aren’t coming with me, I'm looking forward to the new experiences and opportunities ahead.
Leaving The SPACE is bittersweet, but I'm incredibly proud of what I've accomplished and grateful for the support and friendships I've gained. This chapter might be closing, but I know it's prepared me well for whatever comes next.
